Year 7 and 8 STEM event a big success
Over 700 students from 30 Hunter high schools went head to head in the week long ‘Build ME a Future Days’ event, at the University of Newcastle in May.
The annual event ran from Monday 22nd May through to Friday 26th May and was designed to inspire year 7-8 students to choose STEM related subjects in their remaining years of schooling. Belmont Christian College were the overall winners and received a professional grade bottle rocket package, donated by Dr Scott Sleap, Director of the ME program.
The ‘Build ME a Future Days’ were run by The University of Newcastle’s Science and Engineering Challenge and RDA Hunter, as part of the ME program’s suite of activities. This was done in cooperation with the University of Newcastle’s Faculties of Science and, Engineering and Built Environment.
During the event, students competed against each other in several of the activities found in regular Challenge events, including Puff Puff Golf, i-Fell Tower and Minipult. The schools were also treated to an exciting science show by the SMART program and heard from industry experts, including the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Professor Brett Ninness.
“The ME program has revolutionised the way STEM subjects are taught in participating high schools, significantly improving participation rates at senior school level and generated partnerships between schools and industry. Events like Build ME a Future Day are an invaluable part of the ME Program, demonstrating to our students the real opportunities that studying STEM subjects can open up for them.” said Dr Scott Sleap.
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The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.