Cryptography Competition goes nationwide in honour of Alan Turing
04 Jan 2013
GSRH XLNKVGRGRLM RH GLL SZIW ULI ZWFOGH. RU BLF XZM IVZW GSRH GSVM BLF HSLFOW GZPV KZIG RM LFI XIBKGLTIZKSB XLNKVGRGRLM GL KILEV BLF'IV GSV MVCG ZOZM GFIRMT ZMW DRM Z KIRAV. *See answer below.
With almost 2,000 children entering the first Alan Turing Cryptography Competition earlier this year, the organisers have decided to open the challenge to children across the country.
Dr Charles Walkden from the University’s School of Mathematics says: “This has been a fantastic year celebrating the vitally important work of the code breaker and father of modern computing Alan Turing. Our competition was one of the first events highlighting his ingenious mind and it seems fitting to end such a special year with a nationwide search for the next Turing.”
To mark Alan Turing’s role in helping to crack the Enigma machine during the Second World War, the University’s Cryptography Competition challenges school children to decipher the story of Mike and Ellie, two children who get caught up in cryptographic adventure involving a mysterious artefact – the Egyptian Enigma!
Charles says the competition has proved to be very popular: “We had 1,800 children in Year 11 and below taking part in our first competition in January when it ran just in the North West. Now we’re taking it nationwide so we’re expecting thousands more to enter this year. We’re also delighted to announce that the leading travel search site Skyscanner is once again sponsoring the competition.”
There are six cryptographic puzzles spread across the six chapters of the story. The first chapter will be released on January 7th 2013, with a new chapter and new puzzle following every two weeks.
Charles adds: “You don't need to be a mathematical genius or a computer whizz to take part. Problem solving and thinking logically are all that's required!”
There will be prizes for the three top placed teams and for the first team to solve each puzzle.
The competition is open to all students up to and including Year 11 (or equivalent) in the UK.
To take part, teams of four need to register online at:
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* This competition is too hard for adults. If you can read this then you should take part in our cryptography competition to prove you're the next Alan Turing and win a prize.