The BIG Science and Engineering Awards were held on Tuesday 3 (Primary) and Wednesday 4 September (Secondary) at UTAS West Park Campus. The event brought students together from all across North West Tasmania to exhibit and compete for valuable awards. Marist Regional College was represented by over 50 students from across all year levels (7-12), and some great successes were achieved.
Results: Middle Years (Years 7-8)
A massive congratulations to Cameron Bodnar who won the STEM Explorer of the Year (Yrs 5-8) with his well thought out and presented project “Growing Dreams”, receiving $500 and a trophy. Cameron certainly impressed all the judges. Well done, Cameron. Also, a big well done to Evelyn Marks and Quinn Aitken for winning overall first place and $250 with their project that looked at water contaminants in different water sources; Isabella Korpershoek and Josie Kelly who came second and won $150 with their project that looked at how different materials break down in compost; and Gaelle Sakr and Anjali Singh who received an honourable mention and a $50 prize.
Results: Intermediate (Year 9-10)
YOUNG ENGINEERS 2024: A hearty congratulations offered to Angus Krisenthal (Year 10) and Yueqi (Kiki) Liang (Year 9) who took out the top engineering award for the project “Thermal Energy Batteries” investigating the capacity for electrical production from hot sand. The award, with a trophy and $1000 in prizemoney, applauds the making and testing of a device to solve a local or global problem.
Results: Senior (Year 11-12)
Honourable Mention 2024: Well done to Harry Poke (Year 11) for his mathematics project exploring the Hungarian Equation’s usefulness in selecting the fastest swimming team from a group of swimmers with varying times for events.
2nd Place and The Mayoral Award: A project investigating the impacts of grass clippings discarded into creek water on the dissolved oxygen in the water secured these prizes for Logan Jack Barry (Year 12).
1st Place: The top award in this category went to Nichola Williams (Year 12) who examined the effects of electrolytic current applications on the growth media of bacteria (E coli) as a means of curbing bacterial growth.
Students are now invited to contest the Tasmanian Science Talent Search, and for Seniors, the AUSSEF Awards which select students for the International ISEF Awards in the US in May of next year.
Mrs Vanessa Wright & Ms Ann Burke
