The Perse School Cambridge wins the 2026 UK You Be The Solution National Challenge

21, June 2026

LONDON, UK - The You Be The Solution Challenge concluded with outstanding success on 21 June 2026, drawing together some of the most inventive young scientific minds from across the United Kingdom. Held in London, the competition invited student teams to form start-up companies and develop sustainable, science-backed innovations to improve their local communities – this year under the theme of health sciences. Participants demonstrated exceptional scientific knowledge, creative problem-solving, and a genuine commitment to addressing real-world challenges.

The competition crowned AeroGuard Solutions from The Perse School as the overall winners. Team members William Reddy, Ronit Kallu, and Alexander Toutoungi took first place for their affordable, three-layer air filtration system – incorporating MERV 7, MERV 10, and MERV 13 filters – designed to combat pollutants ranging from household dust to microscopic airborne particles, with a focus on easy maintenance and accessibility for homes, schools, and workplaces. Second place went to Aqua Vera, a collaborative effort between Upton Primary, Foster's Primary, and Christ Church C of E Primary. Team members Vincent Li, Angela Lin, and Alexander Huang presented a reusable, biodegradable water-filter cartridge that removes heavy metals and microplastics using natural materials including alginate membranes, chitosan gel, biochar, and activated carbon. Third place was awarded to Puff Bar – "From Sawdust to Soap", a joint team from Dane Court Grammar School, Amington Primary, and King Edward VI Camp Hill. Team members Cecilia Cai, Dylan Cai, Jinxi Fu, and Xuanhao Timeo Zhang impressed the judges with their creative project transforming wood waste into a soap-like product, combining real chemistry with sustainable design and strong team operations.

Each team was challenged to investigate health science concepts through the lens of entrepreneurship, presenting their work as a company pitch, complete with a defined problem, a science-grounded solution, and a clear vision for community impact. The breadth and quality of entries this year reflected the extraordinary capacity of young people to engage with pressing public health issues, from air and water quality to sustainable material use, with both rigour and ingenuity.

The event effectively cultivated enthusiasm for health sciences among young participants while demonstrating how the UK's emerging generation of scientists and entrepreneurs can develop practical, sustainable solutions that serve their communities. The wide array of innovations on display reflects the vital role that scientific thinking plays in addressing everyday challenges, and points to a promising future for community-driven innovation across the country.

The event was distinguished by an exceptional judging panel comprising leading figures from both academia and industry. Dr Ruina Liang (Postdoctoral Research Associate in Structural Biology), Mr Alex Ling (Head of Transformation Strategy & Governance at Wise), and Ms Violetta Vedeneeva (Cambridge scholar and entrepreneurship advocate) provided expert evaluation across all presentations, offering students meaningful feedback and encouragement throughout the day.

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Catalyst Queens win the 2025 UK You Be The Chemist National Challenge

28, June 2025

CAMBRIDGE, UK - The You Be the Chemist UK National Challenge concluded with outstanding success yesterday, drawing together the brightest young chemistry talent from across the United Kingdom. The competition showcased innovative solutions to pressing environmental challenges, with participants demonstrating exceptional scientific knowledge and creative problem-solving skills.

The event was distinguished by an exceptional judging panel comprising leading figures from both academia and industry. Professor Jonathan Nitschke from Cambridge University's Chemistry Department, Dr Francis Krampa (Biomedical researcher and entrepreneur), Dr Byoung Min (Principal Consultant at PA Consulting), and Dr Saksham Sharma (College Supervisor at Homerton College, Cambridge) provided expert evaluation across all presentations.

The competition crowned Catalyst Queens as the overall winners, with team members Brittany Ooi, Natalie Lai, and Esme Lo taking first place for their innovative tsunami mitigation systems. Second place went to The Noble Guys, comprising Le Gia Bach, Nguyen Thanh Hung, Bui Nam Khanh, and Nguyen Thanh Bach, who presented groundbreaking work on seawater electrolysis for saltwater intrusion. Third place was awarded to CHaT, featuring Louise Chiang, Si Yuet Tung, Hoi Ching Hau, and Sze Ching Hau, for their impressive bentonite clay flood barriers project.

Six outstanding teams advanced to the national round, each tackling pressing environmental issues through chemistry-based solutions. The projects demonstrated remarkable diversity, including Nuclear Boom's zinc oxide air filtration systems, EcoRoot's biodegradable soil restoration capsules, and PLRK's advanced water purification technologies, in addition to the medal-winning entries. Teams approached real-world environmental problems with creativity and scientific rigor.

The event effectively cultivated enthusiasm for chemistry among young participants while showcasing how the UK's emerging generation of scientists can develop practical solutions that protect communities from natural disasters. The wide array of sustainable solutions demonstrated reflects chemistry's essential contribution to hazard mitigation and community safety, pointing to a promising future for scientific innovation that serves both environmental and human protection needs.