Students take on world’s superbugs

The team has been investigating the cleansing properties of graphene and hope the product can be used in the developing world to make more water sources fit to drink.

Working alongside research scientists at Canterbury-based FWG, the students believe the natural antibiotic effects of graphene could be perfect to remove impurities and superbugs in the mains water supply in countries including India and Africa.

Graphene Project from KM Charity Team on Vimeo.

Alice Shaw, Auryn Memmott, Jack Wimble-Roberts, all 14, and Ivana Hristova, 15, from Canterbury Academy will brief a panel of science and engineering experts at the KM Bright Spark Awards. The annual science showcase, organised by the KM Charity Team, is in a dragons’ den format and gives students involved in design technology and science STEM subjects the chance to win £500 and science-based experience prizes.

This is the second year students from Canterbury Academy have turned their attention to water issues in the developing world. Their project involving condensing the morning dew to create drinking water earned the school a prize in 2016.

Judges from Pfizer, Megger, BAE Systems, ITL, Astro Communications, Discovery Park, Benenden Hospital, Golding Vision, Global Associates and Prendon Panels will quiz the student team on their work.

Simon Dolby from KM Bright Spark Awards said: "The work the Canterbury Academy students have been involved in is very impressive. I hope other schools will get involved and enter investigations, innovations or inventions students have been involved in."

Any student-led project involving design technology, engineering, maths or science at either Primary or Secondary level can be entered. To find out more or to submit an entry, visit the KM Bright Spark website

To promote the KM Bright Spark Awards in your school, use this toolkit

Contact Details

Simon Dolby
Telephone: 08442 640291
Email: sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk