17 Oct 2018
Last term, our school was invited to participate in the Bennelong STEM Challenge initiated by John Alexander, the Federal MP for Bennelong.
Miss Vale’s and Miss Ruzic’s Stage 3 technology students were selected to participate who were divided into the following three teams.
S.M.A.R.T. team (Space Medical and Research Terminal) - Lauren, Christie, Caitlin, Maria, Ciwon and Rita.
Y.E.P.S. team (Young Entrepreneurs in Public Schools) – Isaac, Darren, Thomas and Ahad.
M.A.R.S. team (Mars Astronomical Research in Schools) – Eric, Jasmine, Sophie, Johanna and Brittany.
Teams were given a design brief to create a Biomedical Space Hub for a future expedition to Mars. Firstly they had to create an online company with an original name (SMART, YEPS, MARS) and logo, which would be part of marketing the product. Each team member were assigned roles including an environmentalist, leader, designer, scientist and virtual reality engineer.
Using existing and newly acquired abilities, teams completed their product over the course of the term. All the teams had to make a trade display corresponding with their product and company, a portfolio going into thorough detail about the hub, a verbal presentation, and a virtual design on a 3D modelling platform called Sketch Up.
Teams then had to present their work to Mr Hinton and Miss Filippi so we could choose which team would be selected to represent CPS at the Bennelong STEM Challenge. All teams presentations were outstanding. After much deliberation, the S.M.A.R.T team were declared the winners.
When SMART went to the Bennelong Stem Challenges they had to give their verbal presentation to John Alexander, show their trade display to the judges, as well as their virtual reality model. What made the virtual reality section so incredible was that the whole group was allowed to walk through their model using a Virtual Reality headset.
During the day, the S.M.A.R.T team had the opportunity to learn more about Medtronic (competition venue). The technology that they used was extraordinary and learning more about it and even being able to use it, was definitely a wonderful experience. It was a great opportunity for the team from Carlingford Public School to further develop their knowledge and skills.
Carlingford Public School finished in overall third place in the Bennelong STEM Challenge. In the virtual reality section of the competition we were awarded first place! Congratulations to all students involved and huge thanks to Miss Vale and Miss Ruzic for working with our students.
