Over 100 students from high schools in the Moreton Bay region impressed judges with their change making ideas and projects at the annual Moreton Bay STEM Fest held last week.
Students were challenged to create projects for sustainable cities, human assistance devices, and a landfill orchestra. Student’s ideas ranged from house bricks made from fungus, a 3D printed ankle brace for dancers, to harps made from trash.
Miriam Pearce, Head of Department of Science at Deception Bay SHS has seen the evolution of STEM Fest its inception four years ago.
“The quality of work continues to amaze us as organisers and it excites us when we ponder what these students will achieve in the future.”
Emma Spelman, Science and Engineering Faculty Widening Participation Officer was one of nine judges on the night. Ms Spelman said the projects showed great innovation in their use of recycled materials.
“The winning team demonstrated an impressive combination of engineering and marketing in their project.
Another team had created a working eco-village model powered by wind farms and each judge had the chance to cut a ribbon and open the village with a fan fare of party poppers” said Ms Spelman.
The Moreton Bay STEM Fest is an annual event which has been running since 2015. Sara Sheather, Science and Engineering Faculty Widening Participation Officer, has been part of the event since it started.
“It was great to see students who participated in the STEM Fest a couple of years ago now acting as mentors to other students” Ms Sheather said.
The Moreton Bay STEM Fest is coordinated by teachers from Murrumba State Secondary College, Deception Bay State High School and Burpengary College, and supported by QUT’s Science and Engineering Widening Participation Program.
Congratulations to the students that took part this year from North Lakes State College, Murrumba State Secondary College, Pine Rivers State High, Bray Park State High, Deception Bay State High, and Burpengary State Secondary College.
The winners were:
Year 7: 1st Place Human AI - Pine Rivers SHS; 2nd Place – Ecotopia – Burpengary SSC & Eco Town - Deception Bay SHS
Year 8: 1st Place – The Gala Girls - Pine Rivers SHS; 2nd Place – HFCS – Murrumba SSC
Year 9: 1st Place – Guitar Board Rok’s – Deception Bay SHS; 2nd Place – La La Landfill – Deception Bay SHS
Special Innovation Award: Murrumba SSC