Who will win submarine school challenge?
Saab Australia’s Andrew McCauley is Chairman for the national Subs In Schools challenge taking part in Sydney this week.
Mr McCauley led the Saab engineering team that created the Subs In Schools manual, the guide students use to build their working model submarines.
“Judging starts Tuesday when we’ll begin assessing the student subs against specification, seeing that they are within size, dimensions and the features defined in the requirements,” said Mr McCauley.
The live race will be held Tuesday, followed by presentations of project management portfolios, engineering designs and the students’ marketing materials.
“The Subs In Schools program not only teaches students how to work with buoyancy, mechanics, electronics, mathematical formulas etc, but how to use CAD (computer aided design) technology, project manage and develop some fundamental marketing skills,” said Mr McCauley.
As a partner in the Re-Engineering Australia Subs In Schools program, a senior high school Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subject, Saab Australia has an active role in the program.
In 2015, two Saab Australia engineers mentored the St Peters Girls School team, ‘Team Athena’ who took out the South Australian state finals.
Team Athena is now competing in Sydney for the national title against another South Australian team and two other teams from Queensland and Tasmania.
“We’re proud of the girls, regardless of where they place,” said Mr McCauley.
The girls have proved they excel under pressure, so they have a good chance.