They’re not bobsleds, they’re not bicycles, they’re Human Powered Vehicles (HPVs) and students from all over the region raced them last weekend as the Whitsunday Festival of STEM launched last Friday.
Now in its fourth year, the Whitsunday Festival of STEM tests school children in STEM subjects with fun and engaging challenges.
“It really helps all of our local students to get involved,” said Secretary for the Whitsunday STEM Challenge and CQU Campus Coordinator Leanne Williams.
“The Festival of STEM really looks at science, technology, engineering, mathematics and design.”
Last Saturday, students participated in the Pedal Prix, an eight-hour hot lap race in which each student spends 30 minutes in an HPV before getting out and Covid cleaning the vehicle for the next driver to take over.
“With the Pedal Prix, the students get to race a vehicle but then they also need to fix that vehicle, make sure it’s scrutineered,” said Ms Williams.
Participating schools included St Patrick’s College, Mercy College, Calen District State College, Sarina State High School and Mackay Northern Beaches State High School, as well as schools from Townsville, Bundaberg, Emerald and Rockhampton.
Sarina State High School year 11 student Ryan Pietzner said he’s been participating in the Pedal Prix since year seven.
“A few mates were doing it and they said, ‘do you want to have a go?’ so I had a go and I’ve loved it ever since,” Ryan said.
“We had to do some maintenance to a few of these bikes because the tyres go flat after a while because we haven’t had a race in a while.”
The 2022 Festival of STEM also incorporated the F1 in Schools, Junior Robocup and Drones Competition which took place at the MECC on Wednesday alongside a mini careers expo showcasing STEM career opportunities available in the region.
“A lot of the students going through school are not really sure what the jobs are so we’ve got a mini careers expo there,” said Ms Williams.
Councillor Michelle Green said at the launch last week that over 25% of the Mackay region’s workforce is employed in sectors with strong STEM links.
“(Mackay Regional Council is) involved in the Whitsunday Festival of STEM to help foster these linkages between our schools and local businesses and industry,” said Ms Green.
“The Whitsunday Festival of STEM is a great way for a whole community to learn more about what STEM is and what it means for the future of our children so that we can provide better STEM education for them.”
Students, teachers and special guests got to test out the Human Powered Vehicles at the Whitsunday Festival of STEM launch last Friday. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie
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