Bright young minds excel at 2023 Science and Engineering Challenge

The Rotary Club of Narrabri’s 2023 Science and Engineering Challenge hit The Crossing Theatre for another STEM-studded event as primary and high school students from across the region gathered for three days of science challenges and activities.

Students got together in groups to test their abilities and get a glimpse into prospective careers.

Narrabri High School took the win for the highly anticipated ‘Get Over It’ bridge challenge which annually rouses roaring cheers as students compete to see whether their bridge can transport the heaviest gold ingot-bearing trolley across a test rig, with gradually increasing ingots.

The Science and Engineering Challenge is well-associated with Rotarian and challenge organiser Bruce Pyke who also announced his retirement from the program at this year’s event after championing this initiative for the past seven years.

“When I first took over the Science and Engineering Challenge, I quickly realised that there was more demand from schools in the region so we extended the program another day, and if there are more schools that want to attend, we will do our best to accommodate,” said Mr Pyke.

Nationwide, the annual challenge is now supported by more than 120 Rotary clubs and 30 universities.

Combined, the challenges reach more than 1000 schools and 35,000 people.

While Mr Pyke is now retired, his own career spanned from the sciences, working as an entomologist in the cotton industry.

“Science is so important to the area, industries like agriculture and mining both rely on science, and with science and engineering, you can’t have one without the other,” said Mr Pyke.

Taking over from former Narrabri Rotarian Wayne Madden, who started the event in 2003, the challenge has only paused twice, once due to COVID.

Mr Pyke’s wife and devoted challenge volunteer Joan Pyke who worked as a veterinarian can be found captaining the earthquake tower challenge, in which students build a tower that is weighted with bricks, to see if it can withstand the Earth-shaker contraption. “I come out and support Bruce, he’s very passionate about this and goes and finds all the funding to make this program happen,” said Mrs Pyke.

“After working in the sciences, he is a strong believer in bringing these opportunities to the next generation.”

The bridge challenge was also the highlight for primary schools across the region, with winners including a combined team from Baradine Central and St John’s Catholic, and Moree Public School on day two.

As well as the anticipated bridge challenge, this year’s activities included building an earthquake-proof tower, planning electrical ‘string-along’ networks, constructing a mars-buggy, harnessing the power of water through a water wheel, and creating a code using light.

The program really is a community effort, with teachers, Narrabri Rotarians, volunteers from industry, and Narrabri High School students all volunteering to help with the event.

Mr Pyke is extremely passionate about the initiative, saying that he looks forward to organising it every year but is ready to entrust it to the next generation of capable hands, with Rotarians Kirk Harvey and Ethan Towns.

“Every year it gives all the kids in the area a chance to come out and see STEM in action, we give them a hot lunch, and all get involved, and it’s just a great time for everyone,” said Mr Pyke.