Participants of future World Solar Challenges, budding solar engineers and installers may emerge from this scaled-down solar car race in Wodonga, Victoria.
Last Friday saw practice day for teams participating in this year’s Solar Car Challenge, which will see 13 teams from high schools throughout the Albury/Wodonga region compete.
The event began in 2003, an initiative of local industry leaders wanting to see students taking an interest in the manufacturing industry. Students team up with an industry partner/mentor to design, build and race a model solar car.
The winner of the challenge is determined by the car that can complete the most laps within the space of sixty minutes.
“This is a fun, hands-on way for students to develop new skills, build new networks that might help them find careers in the future, and gain an appreciation of the types of career opportunities that exist in their own communities,” said co-organiser of the event, North East Local Learning and Employment Network (NELLEN) Structured Workplace Learning coordinator Angela Pesavento.
Mentors and teachers are supplied with a technical guide (PDF) that covers topics including batteries, solar cells, motors and various other components for building a radio- controlled solar powered car.
Judging by the video covering the 2014 event, the kids learn a lot – and have a lot of fun while they are at it (as do the adults).
As with another project we covered where Queensland primary school kids assemble solar lights to be sent to other children in Papua New Guinea; it (nearly) makes this writer wish he was back in school.
Race day is Friday 28th October 2016 at “Transformer Park” in Wodonga – and fingers are crossed the sun is shining on the day. There will also a “community champion” event; with last year’s winner, Member for Benambra Bill Tilley, back to defend his title.
The general public are welcome to attend the event.
Trivia – On average, Albury and Wodonga receive solar irradiation levels of around 4.33 kilowatt hours per square metre daily.
Related
