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Home  About Press Releases Kristin Win New Zealands Next Top Engineering Scientist
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Kristin Win New Zealands Next Top Engineering Scientist |
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Kristin Win New Zealand's Next Top Engineering Scientist
 A problem-solving team event for Secondary students, organised by the Department of Engineering Science at The University of Auckland has been won by Kristin School.
This new competition was held on Saturday 19 September, with students working from 8am through to 5pm to produce a report that answered the competition question. A total of 363 contestants took part, with 98 teams entered from schools all over New Zealand.
Working in teams of three or four, Year 12 and 13 students were challenged to solve an open-ended mathematical modelling question, released online on the morning of 19 September. Teams were then given just nine hours to write a report tackling the question: "Could New Zealanders save enough electricity via energy efficiency improvements in homes to avoid New Zealand requiring an additional power station being constructed?".
Teams were encouraged to channel their expertise in mathematics, physics, logical thinking, computer skills, writing and teamwork to address the problem. Each team was allowed a 'teacher coach' to help them prepare for the competition and negotiate the rules, but they could not provide any help in answering the question.
The problem specified was chosen, on purpose, to be very open-ended and challenging. The actual answer that each team came up with was not actually of great interest to the examiners. What was of interest was the process followed in coming up with the answer, and the ability of the teams to put their ideas together in a well structured document and develop and present quantitative arguments to support their conclusions.
Kristin School's winning team was made up of Roxanne Bartlett, Alexander Borsboom, Oliver Hinder and Daniel Ko.
Senior School Principal Brendan Kelly is delighted with the performance of these talented students. "At Kristin we understand that creativity is essential to solving so many of the problems that beset the world today, and that this process needs to be supported by in-depth knowledge. In the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme we have a truly global curriculum that is recognised internationally for its excellence in content, skills and values, producing such students."
Three academics from the Department of Engineering Science judged the entries.
The winning team receives $5,500 to be shared equally among all team members, and their teacher coach receives $500. The two runner-up prizes are $1800 per team, and $200 for their teacher coach. The event was sponsored by Orion Health and Fonterra, where a number of engineering science graduates work.
All members of the top three teams, who later choose to study in the Department of Engineering Science, will be guaranteed a paid summer internship at Orion Health, Fonterra or the Department of Engineering Science.
Head of the Department of Engineering Science at The University of Auckland, Professor Andrew Pullan, was overwhelmed by the popularity of the competition and hopes it will become an annual event.
Overall winner
Kristin School - view a copy of the winning report.
Runners-up
James Hargest College
Nelson College
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