Inaugural High School Challenge draws 224 students
19 Nov 2007 | Bernie Goldie
In a move to help offset the critical shortage of scientists and engineers in Australia, the University of Wollongong will tomorrow (Tuesday 20 November) host the inaugural ‘High School Challenge’ for the Illawarra and South East Region of NSW.
The Challenge was initiated in 2000 by the University of Newcastle. Today the event is held nationwide involving more than 10,000 students from several hundred high schools.
The first-ever program to be held in the Illawarra/South East Region is being jointly hosted by UOW’s School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, the Rotary Club of Wollongong, Engineers Australia and the University of Newcastle.
Tomorrow’s event has attracted 224 Year 10 students from seven Illawarra high schools with 32 students coming from each of the schools. The 32 students from each school are given eight project tasks to choose from with four students working on their choice of activities. Year 10 students have been chosen as these students are poised to make their subject choice selections for the critical final two years of their schooling.
Organisers are already planning to expand the scope of the Challenge for 2008 (possibly to be held in late June) with schools also expected to compete from southern Sydney, the South Coast and Southern Highlands.
The participating schools will be provided with the building materials they need to undertake their different projects which will range from developing a system simulator to power the different needs of energy users, developing a code for fellow commandos to transmit messages that the enemy cannot detect, building an air cannon, assembling a buggy to use on the Planet Mars, designing and building a new evacuation hovercraft for the International Antarctic Research Station and building a bridge strong enough to transport a mine trolley full of gold.
The Rotary Club of Wollongong said it was enthusiastic in supporting community initiatives which helped youth in the region.
The club said the ‘Challenge’ was unique in the way it targeted Year 10 students creating an awareness of the potential career opportunities in the engineering field.
It said the ‘Challenge’ was also a great opportunity for community groups such as Rotary to work with local businesses and education providers ensuring youth in the region have the opportunity to gain skills and interest in professional fields that provide real career options.
Sponsoring the Challenge are CSC GIS Global Solutions and Technology, Wollongong City Council, Illawarra Regional Development Board, Andrew Corporation, Integral Energy, BlueScope Steel, Roads and Traffic Authority, the National Australia Bank and the Integral Energy Power Quality and Reliability Centre.
The winning team is expected to be announced at about 3pm tomorrow. Media wishing to learn the results should contact Dr Stephen Pan on 4221 5498 or Mr Stephen Petrou on 4221 3417. A trophy will be presented to the winning team.
MEDIA PLEASE NOTE
Among those attending the official opening will be UOW’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, and the President of Wollongong Rotary Club, Mr Malcolm Heard and Mr Peter Charker, also from Rotary.
Opening time and venue: 9.45am in the University Hall, University of Wollongong
Available visuals for the event: Participating students can be photographed/filmed setting up their displays and a DVD (suitable for TV news reproduction) is available showing how some of the finished projects should look.
For further information contact either: Professor Fazel Naghdy on (02) 4221 3403; Dr Stephen Pan on (02) 4221 5498 or 0431 743 443; and Mr Stephen Petrou on (02) 4221 3417 from the University of Wollongong; or Mr Peter Charker representing Rotary on (02) 4227 7071 or Dr Bob Nelson, Director of National Challenge Operations on (02) 4921 6137.
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