Philip Smart | Adelaide
Australian school students can now develop their understanding of submarines and the technologies behind them, with a hands-on program that will have them designing and building underwater Remote Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and submarine systems with practical engineering help from industry.
The “Subs in Schools Technology Challenge” has been developed by Re Engineering Australia (REA) in association with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and a number of industry stakeholders such as the Australian Submarine Corporation, SAAB Australia and Babcock.
It focuses on engaging student interest in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) of undersea exploration, in the hope they may pursue a career in these fields.
Progressing through three main levels, students are asked to build an operating ROV, then 3D digital and physical models of a possible Future Submarine accommodation space, and finally a new remotely operated submarine, with volunteer businesses offering practical engineering and manufacturing help.
Each component of the challenge can be aligned with the new National Curriculum, with the intention that materials such as the technical portfolio and scale models produced could form a component of the requirements for final year 12 examinations in Design and Technology subjects as part of the State education systems such as VCE, HSC and SAS.