Schoolboys are full of bright ideas

Two Merchiston Castle School pupils are top of the class after winning a place in the finals of the 2012 National Science and Engineering Competition.

Hugh Goodson excelled in the regional heats with his project creating a large secure tool box for a pick-up truck.

Lewis Murphy impressed the judges with his design for a pair of collapsible goalposts.

They will now go head to head with students from across the country in an attempt to claim one of the UK’s most prestigious science and engineering honours for young people.

The students’ shortlisted entries will be presented to more than 30,000 people at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair, held at The NEC, Birmingham, next March.

Sir Roland Jackson, chief executive of the British Science Association, which runs the competition, said: “The boys’ entries show just how exciting and extraordinary science and engineering can really be.”