Science and Engineering Challenge
The Science and Engineering Challenge (the Challenge) is an outreach program aimed at changing student's perceptions of science and engineering.
Through the Challenge, students experience aspects of these disciplines which they would not usually see in their school environment.
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 Years 11 and 12.
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
The Science and Engineering Challenge 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 24 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.
Check it out!
2021 Science and Engineering Challenge highlights
2020 Science and Engineering Challenge highlights
‘That’s what I Call Science’ podcast
Check out the 2021 Tasmanian Science and Engineering Challenge on That's What I Call Science.
