Complete Report - University of New South Wales

5.8.5 Faculty of Engineering Information Day for High School Students
Each year the Faculty of Engineering organises an information day to give high school students
an opportunity to learn about engineering and the programs offered at UNSW. As part of the
day students visit three engineering schools of their choice and engage in interactive activities
aimed at demonstrating the relevant engineering area. In 2005 the demand to attend this
event was so great that two High Schools Days were coordinated, one in April and another
in October. In 2003 59 students attended the Centre, in 2004, 40 attended, however in
2005 over the two days 114 students visited. 26% of the students attending the day visited
Photovoltaic Engineering which was an increase from 18% in the previous year. Due to this
large number of students, the Centre ran two tours for the day in April and 3 on the day in
October when only one was conducted in prior years. As part of these tours students used the
solar-powered water pumps in the Centre’s teaching laboratory, watched the charging and
discharging of a capacitor with solar energy, and gained exposure to the Virtual Production
Line, a computer simulation of a real life photovoltaic manufacturing line.
Students using the solar-powered water pumping equipment in the Centre’s teaching
laboratory.
5.8.6 Honeywell Engineering Summer School
The Honeywell Engineering Summer School is an event held in December and is conducted by
Engineers Australia. As part of the summer school high school students from across NSW and
the ACT about to enter their fi nal year take part in a week of activities which involves industry
visits and lectures / demonstrations at a number of universities. In 2005 approximately
30 students visited the Centre where they constructed a capacitor using PET bottles, salt
water and aluminium foil under the supervision of Mr Rob Largent. At the conclusion of Rob’s
demonstration of charging and discharging the student-built capacitors, the students were
issued with information on the Centre’s educational programs.
5.8.7 Sunsprint and Minisprint
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In conjunction with the UNSW Faculty of Science, the Centre for Photovoltaic
Engineering co-sponsored the 2005 UNSW Sunsprint Model Solar Car
Challenge. This was the NSW state competition of the annual Australian
International Model Solar Challenge and involved 15 schools and nearly
100 high school students. The top teams from this competition went on to
compete for the national title in Adelaide. Participants spent, on average,
four months designing and building their model solar racecar.