iSTEM NEWS

Science and Engineering Challenge Day

Last week Kildare sent a team of year 9 and 10 students to the Science and Engineering Challenge Day held at the Wagga Showgrounds. The event is held every year by Newcastle University in association with Wagga Wagga Rotary Club to encourage students' interest in the fields of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) based vocational education. Kildare competed against 7 other local schools in a challenge for points across multiple fields of STEM research. Students were building towers to withstand earthquakes, Mars rovers to move across uneven terrain, turbines powered by water, mechanical hands to make signs and lift objects, and even finding the most efficient ways to power an electrical grid.

Kildare was placed first in three of these various events and placed four in the overall event for the day. As all schools gathered around to watch the final bridge-building task, where incremented weights are slowly placed on a trolley that rolls across the bridges made from balsa wood, Kildare was able to successfully build the lightest of all the bridges constructed. However, the strongest bridge went to Coolamon central school. The day was definitely a success with all teams having fun and students getting right into each task to ensure the most amount of points for their challenge solutions.

A great effort by all students involved and we can't wait to participate again next year!

Darcy Harland | TAS Teacher