On 17 September, the STEAM students visited the University of Auckland on a day trip to discover the joys of engineering and space exploration. The first adventure of the day was a lecture from a NASA engineer encompassing space exploration and Mars Rovers, and the impacts that exploring Mars can have on our planet.
Our day consisted of three invigorating workshops in which we were challenged by engineers and programmers to create solutions and products of our own.
The 3D printing workshop focused on using a computer program to illustrate a design for a keychain. We then built bridges with limited resources and contested to see which bridge could withstand the heaviest amount of applied weight (which turned out to be fourteen kilograms!). We attended a robotics workshop, which brought us together to collaborate on creating a robot that can sense its environment.
Together, we learnt a lot about what it means to be good engineers; to be steadfast and headstrong, not to accept defeat and to apply yourself when it comes to solving issues. This trip was eye-opening, informative, entertaining, and, above all, inspiring.
By Polina Bogaeva