When young people's creativity is let loose, a host of amazing inventions is created, such as warmed-up rubber boots or a world-improving robot. The Search-Test-Develop competition inspires Finnish schoolchildren to take an interest in natural sciences and technology.

This year the standard of entries reaching the final was higher than in previous years. According to the judges, the work that was put in during the autumn and winter showed that children and young people have not only imagination but also good, practicable ideas.

The main prize in the highest series of the competition went to Tom Ehrström. He studied the species abundance in butterfly communities and factors affecting the abundance in an old rain forest and an area of regenerated growth. The jury was impressed by the creator's in-depth expertise and his view on how this research can be used to help in environmental protection. Tom also realized the importance of extensive contact networks as a prerequisite for doing the studying.

One of the competition's most amusing inventions, warmed-up rubber boots, won the competition's third- to ninth- grade series. The idea for electrically warmed boots that was developed by ninth-grade pupils at Nokiavirta school had its origins in practical necessity: the chilled toes of ice anglers. The pupils came to understand how a rubber boot is produced, starting with the material.

In the Tiny Tots series one of the successes was a world-improving robot that was created by infants. The robot collects bad things that disfigure the surroundings and makes them good and beautiful.

Technological know-how worthwhile

The Search-Test-Develop competition has become in the space of more than twenty years an annual event in which some 300 children compete with more than 50 entries. The competition is meant for all young people under the age of 21 who are interested in natural sciences and technology.

The competition is arranged by the Center for School Clubs, and the Trade Union of Education in Finland in association with the Ministry of Education, the National Board of Education and Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre.

"Encouraging schoolchildren as early as possible into doing long-term project work is an excellent way of raising the level of young people's skills in mathematics, natural science subjects and technology. Young people's enthusiasm for the world of science and technology will also benefit business life and the whole of society," says Tuula Pihlajamaa of the Trade Union of Education in Finland.

Pupils in the ninth grade at Nokianvirta school developed electrically warmed rubber boots.