THE Science and Engineering Challenge week kicked off on Monday, May 18, with over 1100 children and teenagers from the region expected to attend the educative event.
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The week, held at the Taree Racecourse, has 25 schools from the Gloucester, Great Lakes and Taree areas attending.
It is split into two main events, with the high school competition held on Monday and the rest of the week dedicated to primary school students.
Teams of Year 10 students from schools around the region battled it out in the high school competition, with the winner to go on to the regional challenge to be held in Newcastle.
The schools participated in a range of science and engineering based activities, with bonus points awarded for the bridge challenge at the end of the day.
Gloucester High School won that event, with their bridge made of ice cream sticks, tape and balsa wood withstanding a nine kilogram trolley rolling over it.
Wingham High School won the day on overall points and will contend with other teams from around NSW at the regional challenge.
The primary school discovery days, held over the rest of the week, involve high school students working with the younger participants to foster an interest in science, engineering and maths.
The annual event, which is run by the University of Newcastle and sponsored locally by Rotary clubs and MidCoast Water, aims to encourage students to study mathematics, engineering and technology subjects for their Higher School Certificate.