Re-Engineering Australia Foundation, based in Sydney, runs a number of programs focused on attracting students to career pathways based in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM). One of the programs they run is called F1 in Schools™ which is a multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary program based on the design of miniature F1® race cars from a block of balsa wood.
The program focus is toward students between 11 and 18 years of age and it facilitates students collaborating with industry partners within the context of their projects to learn STEM principles.
Building a small F1 car is a very serious business. There are 9,000,000 students 17,000 schools in 45 countries that participate compete. In Australia, students must compete at a school level, at a State and then National level to win their way through to represent Australian at an International event.
The international program has been running since 2003 and on six (6) occasions Australian students have become the World Champions, taking out 2nd Place: 6 times, 3rd Place: 5 times, 4th Place: 4 times and 5th Place: 6 times
The program focuses on the development of the analytical problem-solving capacity of students and developing their communication and collaboration skills, REA helps build resilience and character in students, preparing them for the world of work and their future careers.
For more information go to www.rea.org.au