Science

EngGirls STEM Challenge

On Friday 3 May, the Primary students worked in teams to solve a STEM challenge. Run by Year 9 and Year 10 students from the EngGirls program, students in Years 2 to 4 designed and built a tower out of spaghetti that was strong enough to hold up a marshmallow. The 2019 EngGirls STEM challenge was a fun way to explore what shapes make structures strong.  It was amazing to see students working together to create spaghetti towers using different designs that were still able to soar to lofty heights.

The EngGirls program is open to young women in Year 9 and Year 10 and aims to further develop their entrepreneurship skills. Working with others, problem solving and organisation skills are just some of the skills that they used during the five weeks that they took to develop the STEM challenge. The students will continue their exploration of STEM ideas by visiting the Science and Engineering faculties at RMIT and Melbourne University later in the year.

Coke Can Challenge

VCE Physics students took up the challenge to design a Coke Can Cooler that could cool a can off without a fridge and freezer. With only access to a limited range of materials that included ice, salt, a bucket, a small container and foam insulation they were all able to design a fridge that met the aim of the challenge. This year the winners of the Coke Can Cooler Award for cooling the coke can to the lowest temperature were Flynn and Jacob. Alana, Max, Nick and Kaveesh shared the Thermodynamics Genius Award for including the most thermochemical principals into their design. Congratulations to all the participants and to the award winners.

Dr Adele Hudson

Hesd of Faculty - Science