Global CREST challenges

...exciting new CREST awards

Global CREST challenges are based around Practical Action’s work, which uses science and technology to address global issues such as energy, water and food. They give students a real insight into how science and technology can be used to tackle challenges faced by communities in the developing world, and how they can be part of the solution. These awards form part of the British Science Association's CREST award scheme.

The downloads below provide information on how to get started with the CREST awards and contain a wealth of information on the five different themes which will help your students begin their challenge. They include a number of different project ideas but your students can equally come up with their own. There are links to our website giving useful background information and access to technical information used by real engineers and scientists in the field

Videos of some of the solutions used by Practical Action can also be viewed under futher information.

Downloads
Further Info

Getting started
Background information on Practical Action and the CREST award scheme. Useful guidance for you and your students to help get you started on your Global CREST Challenges.

Shelter
Solving housing problems is a huge task in the developing world. Projects can be around the materials used in construction or the different designs needed for flood proof or earthquate reisstant housing.

Food
Having sufficient food is one of the major challenges facing us all in the future. Growing, processing and storing food are all areas that make really interesting projects

Transport
Tranport links are essential in helping people lift themselves out of poverty. Students can work on a range of transport projects form bicycles to aerial ropeways.

Water
Clean water is essential to life. Diseases carried by water kill millions of people every year. Ideas for projects around getting water, cleaning it, storing it and using it are suggested.

Energy
Access to energy to be able to cook, produce lighting and heating isvital in lifting people our of poverty. Projects can be designed aound renewable energy sources, and how to make, store, move and use energy.