24 Year 9's have been working on an exciting remote sensoring project with Harper Adams University College. The pupils grew their own plants in a greenhouse the university. The project included researching plant varieties and then monitoring the moisture levels on their crops using sensors in the soil connected to the internet using GPRS. The pupils then decided how much to water the plants and sent the instructions remotely using the internet and emails. The sensors weblink is www.fieldsensing.org.uk
This was followed up with a hands-on session measuring the quality and characteristics of the crops, and to conclude the pupils took part in a "food vs fuel" debate about whether farmers should grow crops to eat, or to make fuel with. The results of the project will be used by Harper Adams and the University of Wolverhampton to help design sensors for commercial agricultural use.
News just in - The best plants grown were those that were monitored and controlled by Joseph Howard, Clarissa Austin, Maria Akhtar, and David Watts. As a prize, they were presented with gift vouchers and book tokens by Dr Andrea Humphries of Harper Adams university college.
All of the pupils who took part received a certificate. They were enthusiastic and learned a lot from the experience. Thanks to Harper Adams, and to Mr Boyle and Ms Evans for organising such an interesting and stimulating project.
24 Year 9's have been working on an exciting remote sensoring project with Harper Adams University College. The pupils grew their own plants in a greenhouse the university. The project included researching plant varieties and then monitoring the moisture levels on their crops using sensors in the soil connected to the internet using GPRS. The pupils then decided how much to water the plants and sent the instructions remotely using the internet and emails. The sensors weblink is 
This was followed up with a hands-on session measuring the quality and characteristics of the crops, and to conclude the pupils took part in a "food vs fuel" debate about whether farmers should grow crops to eat, or to make fuel with. The results of the project will be used by Harper Adams and the University of Wolverhampton to help design sensors for commercial agricultural use.
All of the pupils who took part received a certificate. They were enthusiastic and learned a lot from the experience. Thanks to Harper Adams, and to Mr Boyle and Ms Evans for organising such an interesting and stimulating project.
