The Science and Engineering Challenge is a program designed to inspire students to study science and engineering at university once they complete high school. The Challenge, conduction across the country by the University of Newcastle, sees students complete in a variety of activities to solve practical science and engineering based problems.

Teams competing in the Science and Engineering Challenge can go from competing against schools in their region, to schools across their state in the Super Challenge.  In 2012, the Super Challenge for Northern NSW is being held in Newcastle August 28-30.

Students who have competed in the Challenge say that it has opened their eyes to the possibilities that further study in science or engineering can offer once their finish high school.

Research conducted on the participants of the Challenge in 2009 showed that nearly half the students who participated in the Challenge and went on to study physics in Year 11 cited the Science and Engineering Challenge as an influence in their choice. Nearly all of the 22,000 participants in the Challenge in 2009 said that they found the Challenge rewarded and helped inform them about potential career paths.

Past participants in the Challenge have also gone on to study engineering related degrees not only at the University of Newcastle, but at many universities around Australia.

The Science and Engineering Challenge is run in a number of locations nation-wide.  More information on dates of competitions held in your region can be found on their calendar.

For more information on the Challenge, the team can be contacted via their website.