For the first time, eager staff and senior students at Highview College in Maryborough will be combining pedal power with an electric motor to create a hybrid powered vehicle for this year’s Energy Breakthrough. This story first appeared in the Maryborough Advertiser, it has been reproduced with permission.
Liam Belcher is the teacher coordinating this year’s submission at Highview.
He said having a new approach is a way to get the students involved with emerging concepts in STEM.
“This is our first hybrid Energy Breakthrough and we’d love to get some kids involved a bit more into the STEM side of things,” he said.
“With the change from petrol to electric, it links in with the change from electric motors and powers to future technologies that are making a big move in society at the moment.
“It’s getting students prepared for that, dipping their toes into electronics and programming, and hopefully getting them interested while also having a good time being part of a team.”
Phil Harvey is another staff member facilitating this year’s submission, and said the students will be using principles about energy from their own studies, and applying them to build their newest model.
“There is a lot of focus on efficiencies, and that really does feed into how we use batteries and power, so the focus will be on design elements and things like that,” he said.
Mr Belcher said the competitive environment at Energy Breakthrough is why Highview College is keen to return each year.
“The Energy Breakthrough is a great event overall, it’s great for the community, great for the school, but I think you also see students in a different light. They really put in a huge effort, not just on the weekend, but over the coming weeks,” he said.
“It brings everyone together into a team, and you really get to know students on a different sort of level.”
It’s only early days into the school’s preparation, but Mr Belcher is also encouraging interested locals to show their support for the group’s project.
“If people have any expertise or skills that would be handy or they can pass onto us, we’d love to hear from them. If there are any sponsors that would love to get
involved, we would love to hear from them as well, so please contact the school,” he said.
“We are hoping to get the trike built over the next few months, hopefully attract some sponsorships and support from the community.
“We are very excited to put this team together, and are going to give it a good crack, so look out for us on the track.”
This story first appeared in the Maryborough Advertiser and was written by Niamh Sutton, reproduced with permission.
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