2012 Science and Engineering Challenge
In 2012, the annual Northern Rivers Science and Engineering Challenge was held over two days, June 7 and 8, at Southern Cross University's Lismore campus, with approximately 450 students from 16 high schools taking part in the activities.
Photo Gallery - 2012 Northern Rivers Science and Engineering Challenge
Activities
| Activity | Description |
|---|---|
| Back to the Future II | Students are provided with a vehicle on which they attach a propeller or fan to drive the vehicle along rails. The students develop their own fan and can experiment with diameter and pitch. |
| ElectraCity | Students are given a board with which they can simulate power distribution. Students will be provided with different quality cables and are required to make all loads operate. |
| Helter Skelter Shelter (NEW in 2012) | Students construct a tall earthquake-proof tower using only basic materials, sound engineering principles, and ingenuity. At the end of the session the towers are put to the test on an earthquake simulator. |
| Puff Puff Golf | Students are given materials to build the chassis and axles for a light-weight car. A balloon will then be attached to the car and inflated - the balloon's deflation is the cars only propellant. |
| Hover Frenzy | Students construct a small hovercraft from motorised propulsion units, Styrofoam, balsa, plastic and tape. Scoring is based on manoeuvrability, speed and ability to negotiate obstacles. |
| Mission to Mars | Students construct a vehicle from materials provided to transverse an undulating surface. Students will use rubber bands to provide the tension for the suspension system. |
| Gold Fever | Students build a small bridge from balsa, pins, tape, paddle pop sticks etc. Points are awarded for strength and load-carrying capacity (tested with dynamic loads). |
| Engineering Game (Thursday) | This is a simulation game to build chairs to support a small, heavy (4kg) doll. Points are awarded for aesthetics and ease of repair, and deducted for labour, materials and transport costs. |
| The War Machine (Friday) | This activity involves constructing a catapult from given materials and launching a tennis ball. Points are awarded for distance. |
Results
Visit the 2012 Photo gallery
Congratulations to all the winners and participating schools. Winning teams each received a $1000 voucher and runners-up $500 for their school to spend at Science Essentials. Team Spirit recipients won a $100 Co-op Bookshop voucher for their school.
| Day 1 - Thursday 7 June Winner - Trinity Catholic College Runner-up - Cape Byron Steiner School Team spirit - Richmond River High School Other participants - Alstonville High School, Kadina High School, Woodenbong Central School, Emmanuel Anglican College, St John's College Woodlawn | Day 2 - Friday 8 June Winner - Mullumbimby High School Runner-up - Lismore High School Team spirit - Evans River K-12 Community School Other participants - Ballina High School, Banora Point High School, South Grafton High School, St Mary's Catholic College, Xavier Catholic College |
SCU Head-Start "Bright Spark" Award
A special SCU Head-Start "Bright Spark" award was given each day to members of the team who scored the highest points for the ElectraCity activity. Congratulations to St John's College Woodlawn and Mullumbimby High School who have each won a $50 Co-op Bookshop voucher. The SCU Head-Start program gives high-achieving Year 11 and 12 students the opportunity to gain a taste of university life and secure direct entry with advanced standing into a variety of courses offered at Southern Cross University. For more information visit SCU Head-Start.
Thank you to our supporters
Southern Cross University's School of Environment, Science and Engineering and the Rotary Club of Alstonville wish to thank the following supporters of the 2012 Challenge:
| Platinum Sponsors Ardill Payne & Partners Engineers Australia GHD Gold Sponsors Environmental Analysis Laboratory - SCU Lismore NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative Ltd Roads and Maritime Services Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology Silver Sponsor Metgasco | Bronze Sponsors Ballina Shire Council GEO-AM Consulting Lismore City Council Spinaze Consulting Pty Ltd Richmond Waste Hammond & Associates North Coast TAFE, Wollongbar Tweed Shire Council Prize Supporters Science Essentials - Gold Coast Co-op Bookshop - SCU Lismore |
Updated: 07 May 2013