A renewable energy project aimed at increasing and sustaining student interest in science and mathematics is being launched at Mount Maunganui College.

A recent $5000 donation from Orica allowed the college to purchase specialist equipment from Australia, required for the STELR Project – being introduced into the Year 9 curriculum.

Mount Maunganui College assistant head of science Rose Burgrraaf, Orica general manager Matt Cawte, Mount Maunganui College science student Keely Haskett, 13, and STELR programme manager Peter Pentland using the hydro power equipment sponsored by Orica. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

The STELR Project is a hands-on, inquiry-based programme currently used in about 309 secondary schools throughout Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.

It was designed by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and focusses on global warming and renewable energy themes.

At the launch on Wednesday Mount College science teachers received specialist training from STELR manager Peter Pentland, visiting the college from Australia.

'The project uses state-of-the-art equipment that's fun to use and students can really enjoy. Our research shows both boys and girls are much more engaged when doing this hands-on, inquiry based learning with equipment that's relevant to their lives.

'That's what the teachers have been doing today, they've been working with the equipment and activities they'll be delivering, so they can realise what the students will be experiencing.”

Peter says the project, launched in 2008, is designed to address the decreasing number of Year 12 and 13 students studying science and mathematics.

'We want students to realise science is relevant to their lives and to look at the careers of people and see how they needed to study maths and science in Year 12 and 13 so they can go into those courses at university.”

'They're also going to be building and running their own houses, and we want them to have an understanding of the energy they'll be using.”

Mount College assistant head of science, Rose Burggraaf, says the students will be conducting experiments such as using tiny solar light panels and miniature windmills, to work out for themselves what the best energy source is.

'They actually do the experiments, which is fantastic. Because its hands on, the students find out results for themselves, rather than us telling them.”

She says the programme's focus on global warming is especially relevant to Mount College students as they live to close to the coast.

Rose says science and math numbers at Mount College have remained reasonably stable, but she knows it's a national issue that needs to be addressed.

'We've been really quite lucky, but I know that the Government is really keen to pick up students in that line, so if we can make lessons interesting it's good for our economy in the end.

'I think these subjects are very important, they are the subjects that will hopefully solve future problems we come up against.”

Rose wishes to thank Orica for its generous support, saying it is donations such as this that allow the college to introduce special projects and education initiatives.