Robert Gordon’s College is celebrating an outstanding achievement as two S6 teams delivered outstanding presentations at this year’s STEM in the Pipeline competition, with one securing first place. Organised by TechFest and hosted at bp Headquarters in Dyce, the competition brought together sixteen teams from across Aberdeen City and Shire, with our pupils showcasing the depth of talent within the STEM community at RGC.

Since early September, RGC ScotCo (Kamsi E, Katrina P, Moha M, Tanish K, Vaibhav K and Thijmen vZ)  and Gordonians INC (Chunlin C, Hashir S, Louisa C, Rudra C, Tanush K and Theo A) have been working diligently to produce a detailed and comprehensive plan on how they would develop a fictional oil field. Using data based entirely on real-life scenarios, both teams created technical reports which were submitted two weeks prior to the final to allow adjudicators time for thorough review.

On the Presentation Day, the teams delivered professional, engaging presentations and showcased impressive reservoir models. Gordonians INC revealed a 3D-printed reservoir, while RGC ScotCo demonstrated an innovative Minecraft-based reservoir model, which adjudicators could explore using a joystick. 

Each team was allocated a 15-minute presentation slot, followed by rigorous questioning from the judging panel. The high standard of both teams’ work was reflected in the additional in-depth questioning they received after lunch - an indication that they were strong contenders for the top prizes. RGC ScotCo secured a well-deserved first place, impressing the judges on how well they responded to the detailed and rigorous questioning.

Speaking after the event, Ms McCulloch, Teacher of Mathematics, said: “It was wonderful to see our pupils interacting with peers from across the region and bringing such enthusiasm to a genuinely challenging engineering brief. Their ability to analyse real industry data, build functioning reservoir models and confidently defend their decisions under rigorous questioning was exceptional. I am incredibly proud of the technical skill and creativity that both teams showed throughout the project. They represented Robert Gordon’s College superbly, and I am excited to see how their passion for STEM and engineering continues to grow.”

Tanush shared: “'I really enjoyed the experience, as it showcased the complexities of oil and gas development, which has brought diversity and prosperity to Aberdeen for many years. It also highlighted the economical transition from hydrocarbons to renewable energy.”

At Robert Gordon’s College, pupils enjoy a welcoming and inspiring STEM environment, exploring curricular and co-curricular opportunities in Engineering Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Graphic Communication, and Computing Science. Through RGC Online, pupils can also discover innovative disciplines including Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cyber Security and Game Design. With our outstanding facilities and the support of our teachers and Future Pathways programme, we empower pupils to develop their curiosity, strengthen their skills and pursue exciting futures in science, engineering and technology.