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Start for two-day engineering challenge
High schools from around the region will be competing in tomorrow’s (Wednesday 10 June) Illawarra and South East Science and Engineering Challenge at the University of Wollongong.
Macarthur Anglican School, Smith’s Hill High School, John Therry Catholic High School, Holy Spirit College, Illawarra Christian School – Tongarra Campus and Edmund Rice College will compete in a number of activities tomorrow.
And on Thursday 11 June, St Mary Star of the Sea College, Heathcote High School, St Joseph’s Catholic High School, Carroll College, Cedars Christian College, Keira High, The Illawarra Grammar School and Ulladulla High School will contest the same activities.
Activities will range from building a fixed arm helicopter or a state of the art ecologically friendly home to constructing a small hovercraft and the grand finale of building a bridge that is capable of withstanding the weight of a dynamic load.
Regional Chair of the Illawarra and South East Challenge Coordinating Committee, Professor Fazel Naghdy, said that all activities were designed to show students the practical side of careers in science and engineering.
The ‘Challenge’ will get under way around 9.30am and end at 2.45pm on each day with the spectacular testing of the bridge.
A number of local volunteers from the Rotary Club of Wollongong as well as university staff and students will be assisting with the event.
Professor Naghdy said the ‘Challenge’ was a fun, yet competitive event that aims to inspire young people to consider a career in science and engineering by encouraging them to be innovative and creative as they investigate and solve the various problems presented to them in their activities.
The winner from each day of competition will represent the region in the Super Challenge series scheduled to be held later in the year.
The Illawarra and South East Challenge Committee thanked all those involved in the ‘Challenge’, in particular, the University of Newcastle, the Rotary Club of Wollongong, the Faculty of Informatics, Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Science at the University of Wollongong, the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Engineers Australia, the Australian Constructors Association, Andrew Corporation (Aust) Pty Ltd and the Integral Energy Power Quality and Reliability Centre.
For further information contact the Local Coordinator Dr David Stirling on 4221 3419 or the Local Organiser Miss Michelina Bajjada on 4221 3409 or 4221 3065.
Photo opportunities: The best times for photos will be between 1.30pm and 2.45pm each day which will enable visuals of the final testing and the announcement of the winning school for each day of competition.