The Nation's Young Problem Solvers to face off in Newcastle

The Nation's Young Problem Solvers to face off in Newcastle

Wednesday 5 October 2005

Young minds will be thinking at top speed and problem solving skills and innovation will be the main priority at an event to be held in Newcastle over two days (19th and 20th October, 2005).

The event, the inaugural Science and Engineering National Grand Challenge, is the realisation of a dream for staff of the Faculty of Science and IT and the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment at the University of Newcastle.

The Grand Challenge is the culmination of a series of Science and Engineering Challenges that have involved 10,000 students from 350 high schools from all states of Australia (except Western Australia and the Northern Territory). This is the first time that the event has been held on this scale, due to an increase in the number of participating schools, from 250 in 2004 to 350 in 2005.

The Science and Engineering Challenge is a highly successful program aimed at addressing misconceptions about careers in Science and Engineering while providing a very motivating and enjoyable experience for the school students. The program has proved to be enormously popular since its inception in 2000 and has been recognised with a number of prestigious awards.

Professor John O'Connor, Head of the School of Mathematical & Physical Sciences (within the Faculty of Science and IT), says that eight schools have won the right to compete for the Grand Silver Challenge (on Wednesday, 19th October) and eight in the National Grand Challenge (on Thursday, 20th October).

Professor O'Connor says that interest in Science and Engineering degree programs has been steadily increasing since the inception of the Challenge in 2000. "Both Science and Engineering are fascinating and dynamic areas of study and contribute enormously to our everyday lives, probably much more than people realise," Professor O'Connor says.

"When we see the excitement and sense of achievement of the competitors, it is a fantastic feeling. High school students who may never have thought of complex science or engineering challenges, are suddenly thinking of ways to solve everyday problems such as bridge building, transmission of information, transport issues, weight bearing issues and many more.

"What comes out it is an understanding of the value of teamwork, thinking outside the square, creativity, innovation and an understanding that learning can be great fun. This is the message that we want to get through - that learning in the Science, IT and Engineering areas is challenging, but it is also fun.

"We see high school students blossom and gain strength and confidence through working with their peers in this way. There are some incredibly bright young people competing," he says.

The Science and Engineering Challenge has been supported nationally by the Federal Department of Education, Science and Training, Rotary and the Institution of Engineers.

The Member for Maitland, Mr Bob Baldwin will represent the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson at the event.

Both the Grand Silver Challenge and the National Grand Challenge will be held at the Honeysuckle Sheds (located on Newcastle Harbour), Merewether Street, Newcastle from 10am to 3pm each day.