“My favourite entry this year was the Rainbow Maker by Gordon Finlay, P2 at Barshare Primary School. A simple device which exploits the principle known in Physics as Light Dispersion. Engineering is all about improving our lives and everyone smiles when they see a rainbow. I have a copy of Gordon’s entry on the wall of my office.” - Stuart Aitkenhead, Babcock International Group

I liked the Squishy Soles (spelt “souls” in the submission). It showed innovation and imagination but also I felt a hint of developing social responsibility as the invention would save the need for parents to purchase multiple pairs of football boots. The other one that stayed with me was the runaway clock that got up and moved away from the bed 5 mins before the scheduled alarm, necessitating the individual to get out of bed to shut it up. No room for the snooze button here. Genius! - Glyn Dean, RAF College Cranwell

The washing machine with tissue sensor was my favourite. The tissue is of course a solution itself, through the problem highlighted here shows how sometimes even solutions can become a problem, capable of much distress and damage – and frequently experienced by many. The sensor not only saves time, damage and costs, but it is has a positive environmental impact. Time to learn the phrase “washing machine says no!”. - Philip Hannay, Cloch