St Paul’s Booragul was crowned Champion School at the Build ME a Future Days held recently.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Hunter, University of Newcastle’s Science and Engineering Challenge, and BAE Systems collaborated to stage the 2018 Build ME a Future Days in the week of 21st May.
“This year’s Build ME a Future Days were really exciting. They engaged students in hands-on, fun activities that built on the skills they’re learning at school. The Days, which RDA Hunter’s ME Program has supported for five years now, offer students a valuable insight into how their skills can be applied in real-world situations and importantly, how they contribute to STEM based solutions to problems.” said RDA Hunter’s STEM Workforce Manager, Rick Evans.
700 Year 7 & 8 students from 28 Hunter high schools participated in the program of activities that focused on increasing students’ awareness of the real-world application of the STEM skills they are learning at school, and the career opportunities that studying STEM can lead to.
It also introduced students to the University campus, and the resources of its Faculty of Science, and Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, while providing a look into the real jobs available for STEM skilled people at BAE Systems’ Hunter facility.
The program of ‘design and build’ activities included MarsBuggy, Flight, MiniPult and SMART Show and Campus Experiences.
“Every year the Science and Engineering Challenge (SEC) conducts inspirational STEM events right around Australia. We were really excited about working with RDA and BAE Systems to deliver the ‘Build ME a Future Days’ in Newcastle, for Hunter students” said SEC Director, Dr Terry Burns.
“The Hunter has some of the best and brightest students in the nation and we want to encourage them to consider STEM careers.”