Bradford Trust Today May 10 - Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS ...

WAYNE’S ROBOT WARSHospital scientist, Wayne Gardner, isacting as an engineering businessmentor at Education Bradford’sRobot Challenge.The event - which takes place at BradfordUniversity’s Atrium - will see 12 schoolsfrom across the city battle it out to seewhose robot is the strongest and lastslongest in the ultimate showdown.In the 10 week run-up to the final onMay 28, school teams will work with theirmentors to design and create their ownrobot.Wayne, a senior clinical scientist in medicalphysics at the BRI, said the event wasa great way of getting young peopleinvolved in science and engineering.“The whole point of the exercise is to raisethe profile of science and engineering inschools to ensure that these subjects areseen as exciting rather than the dusty oldsubjects that students sometimes thinkthey are,” said Wayne, 33.“The pupils are given the core electronicsand then set loose to scavenge recyclablematerial from which they must build arobot which measures up in terms ofpower, agility and style.”“Ultimately, at the end of the 10 weeks,the robots go into battle in a final showdownwith the other machines whereonly the best designed will emerge assuperior.”Wayne, who will again mentorQueensbury School - his old almamater - started work at Bradfordfive years ago after trainingat LeedsGeneralInfirmary.His role as aclinical scientistsees him monitor,maintain anddevelop thehospitals’ equipmentacross a rangeof specialitiesincludingultrasound andnuclear medicine.“The RobotChallenge is a fineexample of how thepartnership betweenNG Bailey, BradfordEducation BusinessPartnership (withinEducation Bradford) and the University ofBradford can develop a simple idea intoa genuinely worthwhile event,” addedLindsey Johnson of Education Bradford.“The support of the Engineering Mentorslike Wayne is invaluable for the students.As well as drawing on their engineeringexpertise the addition of an outsiderallows the students to developthe team working skills which areimportant employment and lifeskills.”Hospital scientist, WayneGardener, with last year’srobot.BRI STAFF CYCLE INMEMORY OF STEVESponsored cycle organiser and A&E sister, LouiseCroxall, pictured with Steve’s wife Julie and hisdaughter, Ellen, 10.Staff at Bradford Royal Infirmary’saccident and emergency departmentare organising a sponsored cycle inmemory of former charge nurse, SteveJones who died suddenly on July 6, 2008,at the age of 37.The 38-mile event, which takes place onSeptember 25, will take in some of theYorkshire Dales’ most spectacular sceneryand is being organised to raise funds forthe A&E Charitable Trust Fund set up inSteve’s name.The sponsored cycle, which will start andend in Otley, will pass through Ilkley enroute into the Dales with a lunch-stop atBolton Abbey. The event will also take inAppletreewick, Greenhow and ThurcrossReservoir, before returning to Otleyvia Blubberhouses, Denton Moor andFewston Reservoirs.There is a £5 entrance fee and theorganisers hope participants will raiseeven more money through sponsorship.Anyone interested in taking part inthe sponsored cycle should contactDebbie Miller or Lucy Hosking on01274 382119.8 Trust Today | May 2010