School pupils across Edinburgh will be听challenged听to听come up with听creative听ways of using new technologies to听tackle听local issues听and help听transform their hometown听into a Smart City听as part of听a听unique partnership with听local businesses and organisations.听
CityFibre,听the听City of Edinburgh Council, and the University of Edinburgh鈥檚 天美视频 programme听鈥撎齪art of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal听鈥撎齱ill听deliver the Smart City-focused Internet of Things (IoT) pilot to primary and secondary听school听year groups across Edinburgh.听听听
Aiming听to听enhance the number of children using听data science education in schools,听pupils will develop their understanding of data-driven solutions听for听a range of issues both inside and outside听of听the school environment.听听This could听see pupils听develop ways of monitoring听air-quality in playgrounds,听improve听the use of digital technology in classrooms听or听examine听digital听methods for听managing听traffic flow across the city.听
The project will kick off in schools听in spring and听a听number听of听pupils will be invited to attend听a听Smart Cities听event in Edinburgh in May听to showcase their solutions.听As part of the initiative,听CityFibre听will听also听provide听schools in Edinburgh with听IoT听technology kits听over the next 12 months. This will听enable听pupils听to practice solving challenges using sensors and data听analysis,听with some of the data they鈥檒l be collecting travelling听over the听CityFibre听network.听听
The听announcement was made听at an听event听in Edinburgh鈥檚听Royal Scots Club听which brought听civic and business communities听together to听discuss how听improved digital connectivity will soon transform everyday life for people听across the city.听听听
Work is currently underway on a听city-wide full fibre network which will deliver significant benefits to communities across听Edinburgh.听CityFibre听is investing more than听拢100m to deliver the project, which will give almost every home and business access to next-generation full fibre connectivity.听
Elaine Doherty,听颁颈迟测贵颈产谤别鈥檚听City听Manager for听Edinburgh,听said:听鈥淲e听can鈥檛 wait to hear听about the听creative听ideas school pupils听have to听use听IoT technologies听and make the most of听Edinburgh鈥檚听new full fibre infrastructure.听
鈥淲hile听most听schools and City of Edinburgh Council buildings听have been听connected to full fibre, construction is well听underway to extend the听benefits of a full fibre听network to almost every home and business across the city with the first homes听to be听connected听next month.鈥�听
Professor Judy Robertson, Chair in Digital Learning, at the University of Edinburgh鈥檚 Institute for Education, Community and Society, said: 鈥淲e are delighted to be working with听CityFibre听to deliver this exciting IoT project to schools across the region.听听听
鈥淭he project will encourage young people to think about how they can use sensors and data to understand their environment and to develop tools that can improve their local communities, learning how data can be used for good. The project is a fantastic addition to our 天美视频 Education for Schools project.听听
鈥淏y bringing business, schools and the university together we can ensure that we are providing young people with skills and confidence to take full advantage of the opportunities provided within our data driven society.鈥�听
Council Leader Adam McVey said: 鈥淭his is a fantastic opportunity for young people across Edinburgh to explore how digital technology can change the way we live our lives 鈥� and to help us come up with data-driven solutions for some of the challenges facing the Capital.听
鈥淭hanks to this partnership with听CityFibre听and the University of Edinburgh, the next generation of problem-solvers will gain the skills needed to deliver a truly smart city for the future.鈥�听听
To find out more about听颁颈迟测贵颈产谤别鈥檚听Gigabit City vision for听Edinburgh,听visit: 听 听