Building on a successful solar boat build challenge in 2016 at Aireys Inlet PS, SCEG expanded in 2017 by including students from St. Therese Catholic PS and Anglesea PS for its Inaugural Solar Cup Challenge. Then in 2018, over 70 Grade 5/6 students from Bellbrae PS and Winchelsea PS participated in the largest program offered to date.
Students from Anglesea and St. Therese Primary Schools (Photo courtesy of Ollie Pop Films)
The challenge involves two students per team working together constructing model boats from kits during school. As part of our focus on supporting renewable energy, we feel it is vitally important to introduce the subject to younger generations.
Video from 2017 Solar Cup Challenge (Filmed and Edited by Ollie Pop Films)
The aim of the project is to encourage student teamwork, enterprise and learning using a hands-on approach as students work together to research science and engineering principles relating to solar energy, photovoltaic cells by designing, constructing, testing and ultimately racing model solar boats.
The Challenge helps promote and develop interest and expertise in using solar and renewable energies by school students throughout the Surf Coast by using learning processes in addressing real challenges. By so doing, we hope that the citizens, scientists and engineers of the future will be more likely to participate in developing a more environmentally aware approach to energy usage, both by more efficient use of old technologies and appropriate introduction of renewable energy sources.
Interested, get in touch at info@sceg.org.au.
Students from the 2018 Challenge
Special Thanks
