In announcing the ACA sponsorship at the 2009 Australian Construction Achievement award dinner in Sydney last month, ACA president Wal King said, “Australia’s achievements in delivering world-class infrastructure can only continue if we have young Australians who want to pursue a career in science, building and engineering.”
The Challenge as it is better known, is a program conducted by the University of Newcastle across Australia with the support of 21 other universities, Rotary International, Engineers Australia, and the Australian Government Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
It engages students to explore scientific and engineering principles through fun and practical activities requiring team based problem-solving skills and starts at the local level as competition between schools in a region, progressing to a state-wide final. Winners of each of the state challenges then compete with schools from all over Australia in the grand national challenge.
The main aim is to change perceptions of year 10 students about what a career in science and engineering involves. Through their participation, they better appreciate that success in these careers requires innovation, creativity, teamwork and problem solving skills they may not have previously associated with these careers. The outcome is to encourage them to continue to study physics, chemistry and mathematics in years 11 and 12, to keep open their career options.
“The ACA sees the Challenge providing a very effective program to excite the interest of young people in our industry for the future, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to get behind this national initiative,” King said.
In accepting the ACA sponsorship Professor Kevin McConkey, deputy vice- chancellor (Academic and Global Relations) at the University of Newcastle, said that the very positive experience for students through the Challenge, is timed to ensure they think about science, engineering and technology-based career options for their future, and then take-up the necessary maths and science subjects.
“The program currently engages more than 20,000 students across Australia each year, but more needs to be done to enable the Challenge to extend its reach into more regions and schools. The generous sponsorship of the ACA will deliver that momentum,” McConkey said.
