AN East Renfrewshire schoolboy has won an award for designing a pillow that aims to prevent headaches.

Adil Reed came up with the innovative design to bring fresh outside air into the pillow, with his concept declared the winner in the primary six category of the Scottish Engineering Leaders Award.

More than 17,000 entries from across Scotland were received but judges decided Adil, who attends Netherlee Primary School, in Clarkston, was worthy of special praise.
Meanwhile, two pupils from the Jimmy Dunnachie Family Learning Centre, in Darnley, also won awards.

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Lacey Murphy designed a machine, named Whale of Litter, to pick up rubbish from the sea. It has an extendable arm to cut plastic caught around fish.

David Fraser’s design, The Bike, sprays out tree seeds and even has a method of watering them.

The competition is run by Primary Engineer and supported at Scottish Engineering, Skills Development Scotland, WEIR Group, the University of Strathclyde and the Royal Air Force.

More than 450 engineers from 273 companies were involved in the programme, which sees pupils interview engineers, identify a problem and design a solution to it.

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The contest has been described as the largest classroom-based, engineer-inspired activity the UK has seen.

Pupils aged from three to 18 have taken part and, contrary to popular belief that engineering is struggling to attract females, the competition boasts a 50/50 gender spilt.

Dr Susan Scurlock, founder of Primary Engineer, said: “Each year I am astounded at the solutions the children engineer.

“After looking round the exhibition, you are left not only inspired by their ideas but you also leave with a feeling that we will be leaving the world in good hands.”