Delivery

On campus

When

See details below

Cohort

Secondary

Where

Hobart, Launceston, Burnie

Capacity

16 to 32 students

Entries to compete in the 2024 Challenge have now closed. Please keep an eye out on this page for 2025 details.

About the program

By participating in the challenge students see that science and engineering involves creativity, innovation, problem solving and team work. The challenge aims to inspire students to consider a future career in science and engineering by choosing to study subjects such as maths, physics and chemistry.

In Tasmania, the challenge is coordinated by the University of Tasmania in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, and is supported by Rotary International Clubs (in Hobart, Launceston and North-west Tasmania) with generous financial support from the Tasmanian Government, TasWater and the University of Tasmania.

How it works

It is a set of fun and competitive hands-on activities involving principles of science, engineering and technology.

The concept is to immediately engage students in the activity with a minimum of introduction and theory.

Participating schools select their representative teams of between 16 and 32 students from Years 9 and 10. A total of eight different activities are set for each day, and each school allocates three or four students to each activity. The students are encouraged to explore scientific principles for themselves. Teams are divided into eight groups that compete in one full day or two half day activities.

• Points are scored and tallied, and the winning school on that day qualifies for the State Final, and that winning team has the opportunity to compete at the National Final. A competitive environment is created as representative school teams are pitted against each other and against the clock in a range of science and engineering tasks.
• Places are limited to eight schools per day and will be allocated on a first-in basis
• Participating schools select their representative teams of up to 32 students from Years 9 and 10.

PLEASE NOTE: for smaller schools that are unable to meet the 16 student minimum, you are encouraged to combine teams with other small schools so as not to miss out!

We welcome combined entries from smaller schools, which we will help facilitate if required. If you have 12 to 16 students, please indicate the likely number of students when you register.

If you have made arrangements to combine with another school, please include this information on the registration form.

How is the day organised?

• Schools arrive at the venue: 9:10 AM
• Short intro. by Team Leader: 9:35 AM, activities commence immediately afterward.
• Lunch at 11.30am
• Lunch is 30 minutes long with the afternoon session commencing at midday.
• Each school tests the bridge they have built in front of everyone at: 1:50 PM
• Event complete, schools leave at: 2:30 PM

Key dates

• Hobart - TUSA Activities Centre, University of Tasmania, 1 Churchill Ave, Sandy Bay:
  Wednesday, 15/05/2024 - FULL
  Thursday, 16/05/2024 - FULL
  Friday 17/05/2024 - FULL
• Burnie - Marist Regional College: 
  Tuesday, 21/05/2024 - FULL
• Launceston - Stone Building, University of Tasmania, Inveresk Campus: 
  Thursday, 23/05/2024 - FULL
  Friday 24/05/2024 - 1 spot left
• State Finals (Launceston) - Stone Building, University of Tasmania, Inveresk Campus:
  Monday, 27/05/2024

Links to the Australian Curriculum

Personal and Social

General capability

Critical and Creative Thinking

General capability

Numeracy

General capability

Sustainability

Cross-curriculum priorities