For more than 20 years, Yancoal Australia has been sponsoring the Upper Hunter Science and Engineering Challenge.

Over 750 students from across the region made their way to Muswellbrook Indoor Sports Centre on June 25 – 27.

The Science and Engineering Challenge event days target High School students in years 9 and 10 and has proven to have an impact on increasing the participation rates in sciences and mathematics. Discovery Days target years 5 and 6 Primary School students.

Among the activities are wiring up a city, building towers to withstand earthquakes, devising ways to capture different sized fish in different quantities, building a glider and the ever-popular bridge challenge.

Yancoal’s Mount Thorley Warkworth and Ashton Coal Mine are joint sponsors of the University’s Science and Engineering Challenge, a proud partnership that has been in place since 2002. This makes Yancoal Australia the longest serving sponsor of the Science and Engineering Challenge.

Mount Thorley Warkworth General Manager Cris Shadbolt was proud to continue championing this incredible program.

“We have a solid and long-lasting relationship with the University of Newcastle. A strong STEM education is critical to working in mining and this initiative helps educate and drive the next generation of mining innovators into our industry.

“The challenge encourages students to collaborate and solve real-world challenges, giving them a unique, fun experience in science and engineering,” said Cris.

The Rotary Club of Muswellbrook has been integral to the success of the event as the main body responsible for the organisation of the event. The partnership between Rotary, Yancoal Australia and the University of Newcastle has been the key to the longevity of the event in the Upper Hunter.