As part of National Science Week 2023, Belridge Secondary College (BSC) invited schools within the Joondalup Learning Community (JLC) to compete in a Science Week Challenge. The challenge was designed around the 2023 Science Week theme of Innovation: Powering Future Industries.

The challenge had 4 categories for entry: 

• Year 4 – Solar Oven Investigation
• Year 5 – Kinetic AI Car
• Year 6 – AI Robot Teacher
• Education Support – Robot Teacher

The Year 4 students were taken through the scientific process and explored the effect that different materials have on the effectiveness of melting chocolate in a solar oven. The Year 5 students were taken through the STEM process and designed a kinetic car that had to have AI features. The Year 6 students were taken through the STEM process and built an AI robot that would be able to teach future generations of students.

All students from Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 completed the challenge during science at school, and the two most creative and unique scientific/STEM groups from each year level were invited to present and pitch their designs to a group of ‘shark tank’ experts. The following students proudly presented their designs:

• Year 4: Owen, Caderyn, Verety, Dita, Kevin, Joshua C
• Year 5: Koa, Jasmine H, Stanley, Jayden, Adam
• Year 6: Thomas, Jaiyden, Cody, Locrian, Noella, Zoey

After presenting their designs and having the opportunity to explore the designs completed by other students in the JLC network, the winning design from each year level was chosen.

The following students were awarded medals and prizes:

Year 5,  2^nd place: Stanley, Adam, Jayden

Year 4, 1^st place: Verety, Dita

Year 4, 2^nd place: Owen, Caderyn

A very big thank you to all students who participated and to Ms Hunt, Ms Sivic and Ms Brough who supported and encouraged the students at the excursion.

Mrs Phillips

Science Teacher