From Wednesday 15 October to Friday 17 October, Newington College held the third biennial STEM Festival – a three day festival featuring presentations on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Boys from across Year 6 at Wyvern, Years 7-10 at Stanmore and some Year 11 boys attended over 260 sessions given by more than 40 guest presenters and our own staff.

Boys enjoyed a range of seminars and activities that saw them climb into a blow-up planetarium in Prescott Hall, watch a Shark being dissected, compete in a Bottle Rocket and Robotics challenge, as well as learn everything from wood finishing and digital 3D modelling to tree frogs and salamanders in South East Asia over the course of three days. With so many highlights at the festival, a big congratulations goes to the Maths, Science and Design and Technology departments for their tireless work and co-ordination to make the Festival such a success.

Some of the presenters were parents of current students, others Newington Old Boys, and we thank them very much for their time and support of the Festival. The new facilities of the Rae and Pyke Centres provided excellent venues for many of the sessions including the Old Boys Lecture Theatre and the three new Science Super Labs.

From all the feedback received, the festival was judged a great success and we would like to thank the sponsors of the festival, the Newington College Parents and Friends Association for providing financial support for the event. Look out for the STEM Festival Review that will be published later in Term 4.

Mr David McNaughton
STEM Festival Co-ordinator