Margaret River Senior High School science squad set to compete at National Science and Engineering Challenge

The region’s hopes will be behind a team of crack student scientists who are making their way to Victoria this week to represent Margaret River and the State.

The Margaret River Senior High School team of Year 10 students in August scored the chance to compete in the National Science and Engineering Challenge and had energetically fundraised to make the trip with their three teachers.

The national contest comes down to the wire in Bendigo today.

Teacher Andrea West said her young charges were up for the challenge after beating 70 other WA high schools.

“This group of students have volunteered to do extra training through their lunchtimes and are a credit to this community in both their behaviour and focus on gaining success,” she said.

“The MRSHS science department is thrilled to be taking this group to Victoria and to be associated with starting to give students the experiences they should have at school after the long absence through COVID-19.”

The students had formed teams to compete against champion schools from across Australia in a series of yet-to-be-revealed engineering challenges.

Ms West said the puzzles would call on the students to draw deep on their science knowledge to solve engineering problems innovatively.

“The challenges could range from building hovercraft, bridge building, earthquake-proof buildings, designing electrical grids, making four-wheel-drive suspension systems, and literally tens of other different challenges,” she said.

“The excursion will also involve a number of activities – educational and recreational – in both Melbourne and Bendigo with the students.”

Parents and friends of the school community who helped support the trip were thanked deeply, with local Lions and Rotary major backers along with the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River and other businesses.