07 Apr 2025
On Friday, students from across the region convened at MRHS – Griffith to pitch their STEM skills against one another at the Riverina Science and Engineering Challenge.
MRHS - Griffith Leeton High School, Yanco Agricultural College, the Deadly STEMmers, Temora High School and West Wyalong High School all sent an impressive 171 of their best students to take part in the competition.
The day was presented by the University of Newcastle in conjunction with the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer, Murrumbidgee Academy of STEM Excellence and the SISP program with the intention of encouraging students to consider a career in science and engineering.
Students were split into teams of 2-4 to complete a series of short challenges. Some of the activities included building towers to withstand an earthquake, building balsa wood aircraft, building a wind turbine that could outperform the competition and planning transport and electricity grids to service a city.
The main event of the day, however, was the bridge challenge. Students had to design and build a structure out of balsa, tape and cardboard to hold a small carriage filled with weights. As the number of weights in the carriages increased, the bridges collapsed in a spectacular fashion.
The challenge also provided students with an opportunity to rub shoulders with representatives from local industry. Sourced through Grow Our Own, the 21 volunteers from local businesses and education providers were on hand to oversee the activities and provide their own real-world expertise to the participants.
“The Riverina Science and Engineering Challenge is yet another example of how the Murrumbidgee Academy of STEM Excellence is building the STEM skills of local students to equip them for the careers of the future,” explains MASE Deputy Principal and event organiser Ian Preston.
“It was a fabulous day that brought schools from across the Riverina together to compete in STEM based challenges,” Ian continues, “The partnership with local industry and education institutions played a significant part in the success of the day and allowed students and employers to network. It was great for the industry to see our students’ STEM abilities in action.”
This is the third year of the challenge and it’s largest yet. Plans are already underway for the 2026 Riverina Science and Engineering Challenge off the strength of last week’s event.
Thank you to all of our volunteers and participants. You can view the gallery here.