Ayrshire College Foundation Newsletter Autumn 2017 - lssue 3 | Page 3

MISSION DISCOVERY
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Seven pupils who developed a space experiment at Mission
Discovery Ayrshire 2017 will see their idea sent to space and tested
by astronauts at the International Space Station.
The team consisted of: Simon Gibbons (Kyle Academy), Alex Hill (Queen
Margaret Academy), Adam Martin (Belmont Academy), Lauren McGee
(Belmont Academy), Jodie McMail (St. Matthews Academy), Eva Peters
(Grange Academy), Lee Salisbury (Garnock Academy) and Benjamin Sonnet
(Auchenharvie Academy).
Team 3, otherwise known as ‘Space Raiders’, was announced as the winner with
their idea investigating ‘The photosynthesis of phytoplankton in microgravity
and the generation of electricity’. Winning team member Adam Martin
explained “We take a petri dish filled with phytoplankton, shine a light on it so
that it undergoes photosynthesis and generates electricity, then we try to prove
that in space it would be harnessed more efficiently and provide more electricity
for the International Space Station.”
The winning experiment from last year is on the International Space Station
right now being worked on by astronauts Jack Fischer and Peggy Whitson.
Their idea investigates the growth of slime mould across various surfaces
(rubber/aluminium/Velcro/plastic) in microgravity, and was launched to the
International Space Station on 1 June on-board SpaceX CRS-11.
Meet the
Astronaut
Hundreds of Ayrshire residents
flocked to Ayrshire College on
Wednesday 21 June to hear the
most experienced British-born
astronaut, Michael Foale CBE,
talk about his journeys into space.
The ‘Meet the Astronaut’ night was
held at the College’s Kilmarnock
Campus as part of this year’s Mission
Discovery Ayrshire programme.
Michael encouraged the younger
audience members to follow their
dreams and not let their head drop
when things don’t go quite as planned.
Michael said “What I was most
impressed about was the
community participation.
Watch
theVideo
HERE
“The kids asked me great questions
and the parents were equally
enthusiastic. That tells me that here
in Ayrshire, of the parents and kids
I’ve seen, there’s no risk to their future
compared to other communities. They
are so engaged with each other - the
parents and the kids - and interested in
developing STEM. I think their future is
well assured.”