Over 250 students will put their scientific skills to test at the Mittagong RSL.
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The Science and Engineering Challenge is coming to town for the 10th time on May 28 and the Discovery Day for the fourth time on the following day.
Developed by the University of Newcastle, the two-day event will be run by Rotary Bowral-Mittagong volunteers.
The challenge is aimed at Year 10 students who are about to make their HSC subject choices and is intended to show them STEM subjects should be considered.
Students from Bowral and Moss Vale High, Frensham, Chevalier and St Paul’s College and the Southern Highlands Christian Schools will compete in the challenge.
Rotary member Will Eddowes said the full-day program would show technical problems can be fun as well as challenging.
“They also demonstrate the importance of teamwork in order to get the best result,” Mr Eddowes said.
There will be eight exercises which consist of building and testing a bridge, building an efficient electricity distribution network and making a Mars buggy.
The exercises will be marked and scores tallied for each school.
Frensham won the challenge in 2017 and went to the state competition.
The Discovery Day is for Year 6 students and will consist of similar exercises with some simplification.
Mr Eddowes said the emphasis was on fun rather than competition.
“On both days, the testing of the bridges by steadily increasing the load to failure is the final activity and is a highlight of the day,” he said.
“The students have a great time and so do the volunteers.”
All Highlands schools are invited to enroll.
Eight high schools will compete in the Challenge and nine teams will be made up from the fourteen primary schools for the Discovery Day.
Call Will Eddowes on 0423 356 190 if you would like to enroll your school.