Last Thursday the Me Program hosted a presentation of the SEED 3D competition at McDonald Jones Stadium Newcastle. The Seed3D competition was started as a way to bring the power of 3D printing to everyone and to grow the use of 3D printing and engagement in STEM.
Students from over 20 local primary and secondary schools were asked to come up with great applications of 3D printing to solve real problems. The students did not need to have any previous 3D CAD experience to enter the competition, only their attention, inspiration and insight.
Students were asked to find great ‘Human Factor’ problems to solve with 3D Printing. They recorded their concepts using a design process template and had to explain how the final user would find value in the design.
With over 60 entries the judges found it difficult to decide on an overall winner. However, Lachlan Cooke from Maitland High School was crowned the eventual winner, with his innovative design that prevents shoe laces from becoming untied. The overall winning school went to West Wallsend High, both the winning school and student were awarded a Me3D printer courtesy of the ME Program.
Students from West Wallsend and Barnsely Public School took out the rest of the prize pool and it was pleasing that all the highly commended awards were won by female students. The winners included; Mikayla Castle, Hayley Watts, Georgia Mclaren from West Wallsend and Rory-Leigh Spicer, Ella Findlay from Barnsley Public. Barnsley also won the award as a highly commended school for the outstanding quality of its entries.
All the student’s designs were judged by Me3D and their designers produced and printed out their designs which were presented to the students on the night.
“The Seed 3D Printing competition has produced some outstanding examples of innovative and creative design solutions to everyday problems. The fact that the designers were high school and primary school students is impressive as a number of the designs could have commercial potential” said Matt Connelly CEO Me3D Printers.
“This competition, the first of its kind, has been able to inspire and engage students in the world of creative problem solving. The quality of the work particularly from our primary school entries underscores the need to provide these types of opportunities to our students as early as possible.” said Dr Scott Sleap Me Program Director.
“The outstanding performance of the young girls in this competition further demonstrates their uncapped potential in STEM and we hope this assists in bridging the large gender gap in STEM professions and open their eyes to a whole new world of opportinuties.” continued Dr Sleap
