Diary Entry - February

Halfway through January we had some feedback from the zoo. They were very impressed with our designs and even more impressed by the diversity or devices created. We are really pleased that the zoo gave the go-ahead for two of the four design ideas. They are very interested in the rope pull feeder as it is very different to things they have done before and the spherical feeder has also received a lot of interest. The feedback on the other two devices had some positive elements but not feasable for use. One design couldn’t be built because the mandrills would have found it too easy to break and the other one wasn’t right for logistical reasons in the enclosure.

As part of getting the devices approved by the zoo we had to deal with the queries put forward by the zoo staff with regards to how the devices would work and then we had to troubleshoot any problems with the devices that the zoo pointed out in terms of giving them to mandrills. Whilst this process was quite laborious we didn’t waste time sitting around and we are confident that all challenges have been successfully overcome.

Whilst we were unable to start the building part of the project the students have been taking part in engineering challenges including “jellybaby towers” where the students needed to build the tallest towers using only jellybabies and spaghetti. They also had a bridge building challenge where they were given a fixed budget to work to and a scenario of building a bridge for a village that must be strong enough to handle all the village traffic. For both challenges the students worked in mixed age groups that were different to their normal groups of the primate project.

We then spent the next few weeks getting the designs finished and began buying in the correct materials for each of the builds. The zoo asked us to build 3 of each device chosen but as we are working in 4 groups we have decided to build 2 of each device with each group in charge of 1 device. Knowing how many devices to build was essential for getting the right supplies. We have been very fortunate in obtaining many of the build materials from local companies or members of the school community. Mrs Watson, from the school, was able to provide us with two large sycamore tree trunks for the two rotational feeders and Mr. Aspden has been able to secure cable drums for the rope-pull feeder. These were generously donated to the build by NEDL. Most of the other equipment has been bought from local hardware companies such as S&A.

In early February we planned a day off timetable for all 34 students, Mr Aspden (team leader) and Mike Hanson (science teacher) to build the devices in technology. Katy Jefferson the original technology teacher involved in the project was invited back to school from her maternity leave to help with the build and provide her technology perspective on the build. We were also helped by Martin Bacon and other volunteers from ‘Rotters’ a volunteer recycling company just outside Barnard Castle. They helpfully came into school with chainsaws to chop our tree trunks into sections for use in the rotational feeder.

The day was a great success and we got loads of work done. Some of the older students in yr 11 and 12 are studying Design and Technology courses and were put in charge of getting different sections complete. They gave jobs to the other students, asked for help from other students and also taught many of the others how to use equipment like the jigsaw and belt sander so they were accurate and safe. The longest task has been sanding everything down so surfaces are smooth and clean for gluing and safe for handling. The students enjoyed chipping the bark off the tree trunks and getting to use the power tools. Unfortunately for many of the year 7s and 8s they were unable to use the larger power tools like the band-saw but there was plenty for everyone to be getting on with. The hardest part for the staff was controlling who was doing what and when. The newest challenge is straightening up each individual block for the rotational feeders to make sure they are perfectly level. If they are not straight they will jam up when rotated.

We have now been working on building the devices for a total of 12 hours and we have still got plenty to do. We are aiming to finish the building stage in the next two to three weeks so that the devices can be sent to Chester Zoo. Dr. Sean O’Hara has already started his observations of the Mandrills at the zoo to have control ethnographic data of the behaviour of the group before the devices are introduced so this can be compared to the data he collects whilst the monkeys are using the devices. The hope is that the behaviour patterns of the group should demonstrate a positive impact of the devices.

 

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