A talented pupil has reached the finals of the National Science and Engineering Competition.

Zhen Cahilog, 18, from The Ellen Wilkinson School for Girls in Queens Drive, Acton, excelled in last academic year’s heats with The Bump, a hydraulic system which uses the wasted movement energy of vehicles to generate electricity.

The upper sixth form student said: “I am thrilled my project has made it into the finals of this year’s National Science and Engineering Competition.

“It has been a lot of fun thinking about science and engineering in a new light and coming up with something that can help enhance people’s everyday lives.”

The competition, now in its sixth year, is open to 11 to 18 year olds and encourages youngsters to come up with a novel idea, invention, concept or solution worthy of earning them the title UK Young Engineer of the Year, or UK Young Scientist of the Year.

Miss Cahilog will be up against other finalists at The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair at The NEC, Birmingham, in March.

Her entry will be shown to more than 60,000 visitors and she will face celebrity judges in a Dragons’ Den-style pitch process.

Assistant headteacher Mike Heyes said: “She is a proactive student who gets involved in different things and loves science.”

Imran Khan, chief executive of the British Science Association, which runs the competition, said: “We are thrilled that Zhen has got through as a finalist and wish her all the best. This project really caught our imagination and we hope that it inspires other young people to enter.”

Mr Khan said they need to nurture a new generation of bright sparks and that the competition offers a great incentive to get youngsters experimenting and having fun with these subjects.

Visit www.nsecuk.org for more information.