Resonate Space Challenge – Dragon’s Den
The Resonate Space Challenge Dragon’s Den event was an incredible success, bringing together Scouts from across Northern Ireland and Scouting Ireland at Crawfordsburn Activity Centre. Organised by Resonate Testing Limited and Scouts NI, the event saw 11 teams go head-to-head, pitching their innovative satellite designs to a panel of expert Dragons!
With over 50 young people and leaders in attendance, the competition was intense as each team presented their satellite model, answered challenging questions, and sought investment from the Dragons. The young participants demonstrated impressive teamwork, problem-solving, and presentation skills.
Every Scout who took part earned the Astronautics Activity Badge and received a certificate to recognise their achievement. Not only did they gain knowledge that met the badge requirements, but they also developed essential skills in teamwork, communication, and STEM.
Stephen Bell, Chief Volunteer of Scouts NI and one of the event’s Dragons, shared his enthusiasm for the challenge:
“We were delighted to partner with Resonate Testing on this exciting project. This challenge aligns perfectly with our ‘Skills for Life’ strategy, providing a unique opportunity for our young people to develop valuable skills in STEM, teamwork, and problem-solving. It not only helps them build confidence and resilience but also ignites their curiosity about space and engineering, inspiring the next generation of innovators and leaders.”
The young people who participated left the event with newfound knowledge and excitement about space exploration. They learned about astronaut training, space travel, the science behind craters and rockets, and even got to taste dehydrated space food. The challenge encouraged curiosity and hands-on learning, making space science more accessible and engaging.
The Resonate Space Challenge has proven to be a fantastic platform for young people to explore STEM in an engaging and interactive way. The event not only strengthened their knowledge of space but also equipped them with vital skills that will benefit them in their future endeavours.
Six teams have now been selected to build and test their satellite designs at Resonate on Sunday, 23 March 2025.
We would like to thank our expert panel of Dragons:
- Stephen Bell (Scouts NI Chief Volunteer)
- Tom Mallon (Managing Director at Resonate Testing Ltd)
- Trevor Hendren (NI Scout Team Lead)
- Rita Malosti (Key Account and Bid Manager at MBRYONICS)
- Ian Stewart (Scouts NI Volunteer/Quality Engineer at Resonate Testing Ltd)
A special thanks as well to all the helpers and staff who supported the event on the day. And, of course, a massive thank you to Ian Stewart for initiating this project.