Pupils across Aberdeen City and Shire are preparing to battle it out in the Northsound 1 Energy Schools Challenge 2008, which aims to raise awareness of the oil and gas sector and address industry skills shortages.
Sponsored by OPITO and Energy Institute and supported by a number of energy companies, the annual challenge sees teams from secondary schools putting their knowledge to the test as they are quizzed on topics such as entertainment, sport, music, movies and famous people.
There is also a special round on the energy industry, with multiple choice questions on oil fields, drilling, engineering, chemistry and physics.
Kemnay Academy will go head-to-head with Portlethen Academy in the first of eight heats, which will be broadcast on Northsound 1 at 96.9FM or 103FM this Sunday (September 14) at 7pm.
The weekly heats will be followed by four quarter finals, two semi-finals then the grand final, to be broadcast on Sunday, December 21.
The eventual winning team will receive a trophy and £600 for their school as well as £50 each, while runners-up get £25 each, semi-finalists £15 each and quarter-finalists £10.
This year, 16 teams have signed up from Aberdeen Grammar School, Albyn School, Alford Academy, Fraserburgh Academy, Harlaw Academy, Kemnay Academy, Mackie Academy, Mearns Academy, Northfield Academy, Oldmachar Academy, Portlethen Academy, Robert Gordon’s College, St Machar Academy and Torry Academy, as well as two teams from Westhill Academy.
Each team is made up of four pupils from S3 to S6, who will be put through their paces by Northsound 1 DJs John Mellis, Andy James, Craig McDonald and the Boy Milne.
Northsound’s Managing Director Luke McCullough said: “The Northsound 1 Energy Schools Challenge is a fun competition for local schools and we’ll be watching with interest to see which team has the best general knowledge and lifts the trophy.
“Northsound is a key part of the local business community, demonstrated by our attendance at the recent Offshore Northern Seas conference in Stavanger, so this is a chance for Northsound to give something back to the local oil and gas industry and encourage future generations of pupils to choose a career in energy.
“We are grateful to our sponsors and the oil and gas companies which are also supporting the challenge and would like to wish all the teams the best of luck!”
The Northsound 1 Energy Schools Challenge is supported by Maersk, KCA Deutag, Technip, Aker Solutions, Shell U.K. Limited, ExxonMobil, Apache, Marathon Oil and Weatherford, as well as online sponsor Subsea 7.