With schools closed and the possibility of spending little time outdoors, learning at home has become a challenge for parents all over the world. To help them fight boredom, the James Dyson Foundation, a foundation created to train the inventors of the future, has created 44 scientific and engineering challenges to help children and parents keep an active mind during isolation. Designed specifically by Dyson engineers for children, the Challenge Cards encourage curious young minds to become passionate about engineering.
From building the Golden Gate Bridge with spaghetti to racing a balloon-propelled car and building a cardboard boat from scratch, kids can try their hand and test themselves following Dyson’s Problem-Solving scientific approach. Challenge Cards can be downloaded here. The James Dyson Foundation’s commitment to future generations of engineers has a long history and is part of the international competition now in its 16th edition: The James Dyson Award.
Since 2005, the JDA has challenged the inventiveness and entrepreneurial spirit of undergraduates and recent graduates in engineering and design, challenging them to invent a solution to a problem. Of the winners of past editions – each awarded £30,000 – 1 out of 5 have successfully commercialised their inventions. As well as recognising the international award, this year the JDA will also crown a second winner in the ‘Sustainability’ category for the first time. James Dyson said: “Every year we are amazed at the ingenuity and spirit with which young people manage to solve truly complex problems. For many of those entered for the James Dyson Award, the goal is to improve the world with the help of engineering and technology. In recognition of the role that engineers and scientists play in creating a sustainable future, we have decided to give a second international award to ideas that address environmental or social issues with a view to doing more with less”.
