Our Year 9 students have been hard at work preparing for the Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge, a STEM competition that brings together hundreds of students from across Victoria to design, build and race solar-powered vehicles.

Recently, students had the opportunity to work alongside guest mentor Ian Gardner, a retired professional mechanical engineer with more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing, military, aerospace and commercial engineering. Throughout his career, Ian worked in forging and heat treatment of metals, machining, plant and process design, and held a range of middle management positions. His wealth of industry knowledge provided students with valuable insights into real-world engineering and design processes.

During the workshop, Ian guided students as they refined their Sheridan kit cars, helping them develop practical skills in construction, problem-solving and testing. The hands-on session enabled students to apply concepts from mathematics, physics, engineering and technology while learning the importance of teamwork and innovation.

The Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge encourages students to think creatively and sustainably as they explore how solar energy can be used to power vehicles. We thank Ian for sharing his expertise and inspiring the next generation of engineers, and we look forward to seeing our students put their hard work into action when they compete later this year.

Josh Cohen

Science and Technology Teacher