Entries are now open to school pupils in the island wanting to take part in an international competition founded by an Apollo astronaut.

The Conrad Challenge, founded by the late Pete Conrad and his wife Nancy, is run annually by America’s Conrad Foundation for pupils aged pupils aged 13 to 18.

It invites entries in any of six categories: Aerospace and Aviation, Cyber-Technology and Security, Energy and Environment, Health and Nutrition and two new categories: Transforming Education with Technology and Smoke-Free World.

Isle of Man pupils entering the competition have been sponsored for the past nine years by ManSat, whose chairman and chief executive, Chris Stott, said: ’Isle of Man students have produced some excellent entries since we started sponsoring the challenge and last year the King William’s College team narrowly missed out on visiting the US for the final to present their project.’

The team from King William’s College reached the semi-finals of the competition by devising a device to reduce the number of drink or drug-influenced driving incidents.

’It is an innovative competition which combines creative thinking with science and technology skills and encourages young adults to leave their mark on the world and create products or services that address some of the most pressing global challenges,’ he added.

Teams can comprise up to five pupils aged 13 to 18 with a coach, aged 18 or above.

The 2019 final will take place at the Kennedy Space Centre Visitors’ Complex in Houston from April 23-27, with the finalists presenting their concepts to a panel of experts.

Teams have until October 19 to register and ManSat will pay for each team’s entry fee.

Any Isle of Man pupils wishing to enter a team should contact ManSat senior manager of regulatory affairs, Dr Jennifer Stone, at [email protected]

For more information, visit www.conradchallenge.org/conrad-challenge/