STEM takes the stage at Western Plains’ 2024 Engineering and Science Challenge
ENCOURAGING and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers, local kids are about to compete in an event that is truly a test of the mind, not the body.
The annual Western Plains Science and Engineering Challenge is on again in Dubbo, and organisers are calling for a helping hand.
This year’s event will also feature a celebration of Indigenous technology with teams asked to recreate one of our best-known examples of Aboriginal engineering.
The challenge is on from Monday, March 4, at Dubbo Showground and involves students from a dozen schools from across the district, organising committee Chairperson Tony Geraghty said.
“It’s been running in Dubbo since 2000 with just about all the local schools participating at one time or another, though we did have a dropoff post-pandemic,” Tony said.
“The challenge is actually a national event, and our geographical spread makes ours the biggest one in NSW,” he added.
Schools coming from as far away as Mudgee, Coonabarabran, Warren, Parkes, and locally, Wellington, have entered about 200 students each day for the event – secondary school teams on the first two days, primary school teams, the next two – in teams of eight over a series of mini-events to test their knowledge, teamwork, and creativity.
“There’ll be eight activities; all deal
with some form of construction process – electricity, wind power, hydraulics,” Tony said. “They then have a set time and will work as team together to try and come up with some solutions.”
The 2024 event also features a section on the oldest technology in the world, that of Indigenous Australians.
“It’s really exciting, we’re incorporating Aboriginal science and technology, with a challenge based on the Brewarrina fish traps,” Tony said.
“We’re hoping to have local Indigenous people here, to help explain and overlook this activity to celebrate what was ancient engineering and that is still effective in the modern day.”
Newcastle University are setting up and coordinating the challenge and a social event on the Wednesday night with a guest speaker from Squadron Energy for the students to attend; though locals are still being sought to help out for the week.
“Definitely, we can do with some more volunteers… anyone can apply to just help with setting up activities and supervising the students,” Tony said.
“You just need a Working With Children Check number from Service NSW; it won’t be terribly onerous, and they’ll get well fed and watered,” he concluded.
Local Rotary clubs provide financial sponsorship, and Rotarians and friends volunteer their time to organise the event and supervise students participating in the activities. For more information, contact Tony Geraghty on 0407 935 896.