Successful Challenge held at Orange
Posted by Peter Gissing
on Mar 10, 2013
Over 190 Year 10 students from 7 schools from Orange, Molong and Bathurst competed in the Science and Engineering Challenge at Orange in March 2013. The event is run by the University of Newcastle and was organised by the 4 combined Rotary Clubs of Orange with generous sponsorship from Byrnecut, a national mining company with operations locally.
“The Challenge is a great activity to spark a greater interest in science and technology among students and get Rotarians and the community involved.” said organiser President Michael Horth (Rotary Club of Orange North).
The 
Science and Engineering Challenge (the Challenge) is a set of fun and competitive activities involving principles of science, engineering and technology. The concept is to immediately engage students with a minimum of introduction and theory. Students explore scientific principles for themselves rather than being guided to a predetermined answer.
The activities required the students to work in teams to design and build a hovercraft, a Mars rover, a catapult, an earthquake proof building, a balloon powered car, a dish telescope and design a power distribution system.
In all activities points were allocated for accuracy and ability of the devices to withstand various testing. The finale was the testing of the bridge constructed from balsa wood to withstand an increasingly loaded trolley to pass over without collapsing.