About 750 students in Years 9 and 10 from across Melbourne will compete in Victoria University's Science and Engineering Challenge, an annual three-day contest that shows young people that a career in the sciences can be fun.
Senior Lecturer Ian Campbell, of VU's School of Engineering and Science, said students will compete against rival schools to solve challenging, real-life problems using fundamental maths and science principles.
Activities include designing model-scale:
- bridges using balsawood, drinking straws and strings that can carry a moving load
- houses to resist the effects of global warming such as temperature extremes, floods and high winds
- hovercraft using polystyrene trays, plastic sheets and computer cooling fans
- electrical grids to supply power to a model city
- propeller-driven helium balloon airships to be navigated through an obstacle course
The following schools will compete:
| Tuesday 20 July | Wednesday 21 July | Thursday 22 July |
|---|---|---|
| St Albans College | Werribee Secondary College | Bayside College |
| Keilor Downs College | Roxburgh College | Footscray City College |
| Gilmore College | Marcellin College, Bulleen | Gladstone Park College |
| St Catherine's, Toorak | Killester College, Springvale | Melbourne Girls College |
| Sunshine College | Brunswick College | Whitefriars College, Donvale |
| Lowther Hall, Essendon | Scotch College, Hawthorn | Christian College, Highton |
| St Bernards, Essendon | Catholic Regional College | |
| Reservoir District College |
The Science and Engineering Challenge was designed ten years ago by the University of Newcastle to address the alarming decline in numbers of secondary school students choosing science careers after secondary school. It is now the largest outreach program of its kind in Australia and has expanded to include Singapore.
In 2009, about 22,000 secondary school students participated across Australia with the best schools from all states going on to national finals to be held this year near Newcastle, NSW.
What: Victoria University Science and Engineering Challenge
When: 20, 21 and 22 July
Where: Victoria University, Footscray Park Campus, Building L - Basketball Courts
Time: 10 am - 12pm and 12.30pm - 3pm each day
Media Contact:
Ann Marie Angebrandt, Media Officer
Marketing and Communications Department, Victoria University
Ph: (03) 9919 5487 or Mobile: 0403 556 001.
