What is the Ingenious Cardboard Regatta?
The inaugural Ingenious Cardboard Regatta was a maritime challenge designed to inspire the interest of young people in STEM.
Throughout the programme, engineers from the Belfast Maritime Consortium, along with W5's Learning and Engagement team, promoted marine engineering through interactive activities and concluded with a regatta race of cardboard boats powered by the student seafarers.
Throughout the 2022/23 academic year, students from six participating schools took part in theory and practical workshops to develop their engineering knowledge.
For the final event, students applied the knowledge they gained throughout the programme to construct a cardboard boat which they displayed at the Showcase event in W5 LIFE.
Showcase Event
On Thursday 22nd June 2023, the six teams, alongside their paired industry expert, travelled to W5 LIFE to participate in the programme's Showcase event.
The teams presented their innovative cardboard boat designs and communicated their engineering expertise to the judges (Graham Knowles, Institute of Marine Engineering; Ian Duncan, Institute of Marine Engineering; Andrew Hunter, Survitec).
Also in attendance at the Showcase was Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), who attended in-school workshops to communicate the importance of water safety; Harbour Police who engaged with students on how they can stay safe both in and out of the water; and NI Water who attended the Showcase with their Water Bus. This double decker bus has been transformed into a mobile educational unit highlighting issues such as water conservation and water cycles.
Take a look back at photos from the Showcase
