Sixth formers impress sustainability experts with their AI acumen

Talented students in Solihull have earned plaudits from a global energy and water consultancy for their imaginative use of Artificial Intelligence to build a cleaner and healthier planet.

Year 12 students from WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Fordbridge participated in Mission: Sustainability, an innovative community partnership programme run by Enzen, a global knowledge enterprise specialising in net zero and headquartered in Blythe Valley Park.

The four-week challenge, launched during National Apprenticeships Week in February, saw 39 students studying science, engineering, technology and maths divide into eight teams.

Drawing on industry expertise and resources provided by Enzen, the students tackled a challenge themed on ‘How can AI be used to create a more sustainable world?’.

Mission: Sustainability culminated with each team presenting their solutions to a panel of judges comprised of academy teachers and members of the Enzen UK leadership team.

The students’ ideas addressed a range of energy and environmental challenges, from river pollution and agricultural productivity to waste management and more sustainable computing.

Stewart Tait, CEO of WMG Academy Trust, said: “The WMG Academy Trust is delighted to be in partnership with Enzen, a prestigious, global leader in the latest engineering and water technologies. The Mission Sustainability project has given WMG students the opportunity to work and collaborate with industry leaders and experts in the latest innovative solutions and showcase their talents and skills to investigate more sustainable ways of solving tomorrow’s problems today.”

Louise Carter, head of People and Culture for Enzen in the UK and Europe, said: “The quality and creativity of the students’ ideas was excellent and our judges were impressed with the sophistication of the solutions.

“Enzen’s mission as a company is to make energy and water more accessible, affordable and sustainable for all. Inspiring the next generation to work collaboratively and creatively, so they can apply new technology responsibly, creatively and for the wellbeing of our planet, is fundamental to this.

“We were proud to partner with the WMG Academy for Young Engineers and are excited to see so much young talent showing passion and knowledge for the subject.”

The eight teams were awarded either Gold, Silver or Bronze classification during a YouTube show, available to watch HERE. Gold winners will now enjoy a work experience placement at Enzen in Solihull during the next academic year.

Enzen launched Mission: Sustainability in 2020 to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers and demonstrate how their creativity and collaboration can make a real difference to the future of our planet.

Running every year since, Mission: Sustainability has proved a success in the West Midlands, the region where the Enzen story began in 2006 and which is home to Enzen’s corporate headquarters. In 2022, the programme won the Social Impact category at the Energy Innovation Awards and the Sustainability category at the Education Awards.

Pictured: The WMG Academy Solihull Gold winners