Budding young scientists and engineers are gathering at the University of Newcastle this week to compete in the Ausgrid Newcastle Regional Challenge event of the annual Science and Engineering Challenge.

The Science and Engineering Challenge is a nationwide outreach program led by the University of Newcastle in conjunction with various partners and sponsors, and is designed to inspire high school students to study science and engineering at a senior level.

This week students from Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Lower Hunter  and Port Stephens high schools will participate in a range of exciting hands-on activities that are designed to demonstrate the varied and practical elements of a career in the disciplines of science and engineering.

Following the regional events, twenty four of the highest scoring high schools nationwide will then compete at the Ausgrid Northern NSW Super Challenge Series from 13 to 15 August.

This year the Regional Challenge and the Northern NSW Super Challenge will be run at the Forum at the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus, with a total of over two thousand Year 9 and Year 10 students from 68 schools attending over the two weeks of events.

The Challenge is working with the University's Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment and the Faculty of Science and Information Technology to ensure a lasting positive impact is made on the students.

Past participants in the Challenge say that it has opened their eyes to the possibilities that further study in science or engineering can offer once they finish high school.