Publication:Sea Talk Autumn 2008/Wanted: future Navy engineers
By LCDR Vanessa Power
Navy engineer Lieutenant Ken Meredith has recently found himself the mentor to 32 high school students as part of the inaugural Canberra F1 in Schools competition hosted at ADFA last November.
The F1inSchools competition is part of the Schools Innovation Design Challenge (SIDC) which is an initiative of the Re-Engineering Australia Forum Ltd. (REA). REA is a not- for-profit public company established to raise the awareness of modern engineering design and manufacturing careers through exciting initiatives targeting young Australian’s – our innovators of tomorrow!
And the Navy proudly supports the ADFA F1inSchools Project.
While support is not specifically aimed at promoting the Navy, there is interest in seeing many more young people move towards careers in the engineering and technical professions as a way to address the technical skills shortages within Defence now and in the future.
Navy not only supports F1 in Schools program in Canberra, but also a new technology hub based at ADFA which will be used to assist schools involved in REA Forum’s programs. The technology will also be available for other curriculum based assignments and major works throughout the year.
Navy F1 in School event organiser Lieutenant Ken Meredith says F1inSchools
is all about making engineering fun
“It’s about building the kids confidence and letting them know there are many career opportunities in the engineering field,” he said.
The F1inSchools Project aims to introduce students, in years 7 to 12, to the excitement of “hightech”, so that they will choose subjects in their junior and senior secondary school years that can lead to careers in technology and engineering.
The project involves computer based design, virtual testing and analysis, collaboration, manufacture, physical testing and racing of miniature Formula 1 racing cars and we hope this will entice the kids into an engineering profession…hopefully the Navy!
The technology hub unveiled at ADFA with students from Marist College, Hawker College, Lake Tuggeranong College, Radford College and Trinity Christian School demonstrating an array of complex software and specialist equipment.
REA Forum NSW Project Manager Paul Wilson, said students from these and other high school in the ACT would have access to three-dimensional CAD/CAM/CAE software called CATIA valued at millions of dollars.
“It’s the same software used by Boeing, Toyota and professional engineers around the world,” he said. “We combine it with virtual wind tunnel software, a classroom-sized CNC machine and smoke and wind tunnels, and a computerised 20-metre race track.
“The students will use this technology to design, test and develop their own powered F1 racers in miniature. The cars – powered by a CO2 bulb - reach speeds of 100 km/h.
“The year 7-12 students will also been introduced to collaboration technology via high speed broadband, email and web conferencing provided by our partners, Telstra and Webex.
“We use Webex to link classrooms with industry and with each other. We are showing students that no matter where they live they can pursue a technology career.”
The REA Forum’s competition currently involves more than 300,000 students at over 320 high schools and is expanding at a rapid rate – is enabling students to use world-standard technology and focus them on engineering and manufacturing related careers.
Navy will also be the major supporter of the F1 in Schools National Finals at Noosa District State High School where more than 100 students from year seven upwards will compete for the title of National Champions.
For more information go to www.rea.org.au
