STEAM PROJECT

BUILDING AN OFF THE GRID HOUSE

The Footscray City College STEAM specialist, Tim Beare has worked with three Year 9 STEAM classes since the beginning of 2018 to build and Off the Grid House to house the Telescope. This process has involved students, parents, teachers and members of the community to design and build the project. The extended team has included Ryan Grieve, a professional Building Inspector who has helped bring them up to spec. Mark Neilson from Set Square Productions who has helped carry out Engineering Checks and arranged crane Hire to put the retractable roof on. Tim has also worked under the guidance of qualified engineers on staff, Michael Antony and Tom Falzon.  

The project has focused on a range of STEAM elements, in particular, the Science of Sustainability and Engineering. The students researched the importance of North Facing buildings and installed a Clear Story Double Glazed Window donated by Reece Peart from Custom Edge Constructions. The house is powered by one of our Wind Turbines and a solar energy system. The design features of this house also include a roof that will slide off when the telescope is in use.  This project is a testament to the creativity of teachers and students working on real life issues with great results.

The Melbourne University Astrophysics  - school of Physics has lent a Telescope to Footscray college as part of the Telescopes in Schools Program. This program has been running for several years where Volunteers from Melbourne University have taught and shown parents, students and other community groups about celestial bodies. Through the telescope, they have explored constellations and planets and discussed a range of topics including Black Holes and Deep Space. 

Brigitta Clifford - Head of Technology and STEAM