With eight high schools and 33 primary schools from the Mid Coast region, 2018 will be the largest challenge and discovery day program so far.
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According to the MidCoast Challenge coordinating committee, over the past 15 years the primary school discovery day program has grown to be the largest single venue program in Australia with 1500 students attending the five day event.
Regional students will put their minds to the test when they compete in this year’s MidCoast Science and Engineering Challenge discovery days.
High school students kick of the program with a challenge day on Thursday, May 3 followed by the primary school events running from Monday, May 7 to Friday, May 11 all taking place at the Bushland Drive racecourse in Taree.
The challenge and discovery days are a joint project conducted by the University of Newcastle and the local community aimed at inspiring young people to consider a career in the sciences, engineering or other technology-related areas.
Schools will be faced with activities such as the building and testing of a catapult, bionic hand, bridge, earthquake proof tower, turbine, stringways and Electra City, with each student participating in two of the activities.
MidCoast Challenge Coordinating Committee regional chair, John Walton said the hands-on competitive nature of the challenge allows students to experience the creative side of science and engineering in a fun atmosphere.
“The challenge is aimed mainly at year 10 students, but some schools include younger students and they are quite welcome to do so,” he said. “We also have the discovery days for students in year five and six.”
Events get underway at 9.30am and conclude around 2.30pm each day, with the final challenge being the testing out of the students’ bridge designs.
“The committee would like to invite members of the public to attend for part or all of the day.”
The challenge dinner will be held on Thursday, May 10 from 6pm at the racecourse function centre and costs $30 per person with members of the public and parents invited - contact John on 6558 8272 to book.
This event is supported in particular by the Rotary Clubs of Taree, Taree North, Taree on Manning Great Lakes, Tuncurry Forster, Old Bar-Forster, Wingham, Gloucester and Dungog as well as the schools and sponsored by MidCoast Water, Manning Valley Race Club, Engineers Australia (Newcastle), AGL Energy, Stratford Coal and NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.
