Mission

"Scientia Manu et Mente"

Knowledge by Hand and Mind

The objective is to have the student

  • engage imagination;
  • direct learning;
  • refine scholarship; &,
  • embrace challenge;

by way of age-appropriate, science & engineering based events involving planning, construction, experimentation and competition.

 

 

Details

The UNSW SunSprint Model Solar Challenge runs each year on the first Saturday in September - coinciding with UNSW Open Day. SunSprint is on Friday and Saturday while MiniSprint, Solar Boats and the Solar Pursuit events are on Saturday. The event is open to all primary and high school students in NSW and ACT.

Some of the event is based on the specifications supplied by the Australian-International Model Solar Challenge allowing winning teams from SunSprint and the Solar Boats to participate in the national competition.

There are theory and construction seminars available for teachers and students at UNSW. In some cases it is possible for technical training to be held in schools. There are also several experienced school teachers happy to help new schools get into the competition.

Videos

A SunSprint Race - 1st Place

A MiniSprint Race - 1st Place

A Solar Boats Race - 1st Place

A car's eye view of the SunSprint track

 

For more information contact:
Michael Richards -  0411 357 894
Email: Michael Richards - michael.richards@unsw.edu.au

 

 

 

About

SunSprint

Raced on a 100 metre figure-eight track, the SunSprint race cars are built to  the Australian-International Model Solar Challenge specifications.

Cars are usually built by teams of up to four (year 6 to year 12) students and take up to six months to design and build.
 

MiniSprint

Raced on a 20 metre straight track, these cars are built from kit materials comprising of a solar module, motor, gears, wheels and corflute chassis.  Cars can often be built in a day or two but it may take a week to refine the student’s design.  Usually built and raced by an individual student. Participants are K – 12 with categories for primary and secondary school.
 

Solar Boats

Raced in a 10 metre pool, solar boats use fishing line for steering.  Boats are built to the Australian-International Model Solar Challenge specifications. Participants are K – 12 with categories for primary and secondary school.
 

Solar Pursuit

MiniSprint style cars chase each other around a single lane oval track until one of the cars catches up and touches the other.  Participants are K – 12 with categories for primary and secondary school.