Latest news with #AuroraEnergyScienceandTechnologyFair
Otago Daily Times
07-08-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Student's self-deployable raft takes top prize
A Dunedin intermediate student's potentially life-saving invention has resulted in him beating much older pupils for the top prize at this year's science fair. Balmacewen Intermediate School student Ben Walker won the top award for his self-deployable raft for use in floods or tsunami. For his efforts, he was given the Best in Fair Award at the Aurora Energy Science and Technology fair this year. Fair convener Steven Sexton said it was the first time in about 10 years a year 8 student had been awarded best in fair. Ben's project stood out for its uniqueness to the judges. Aurora Energy Science and Technology Fair Best in Fair award winner Ben Walker, 13, with his self-deployable raft flood protection project ''flood buddy''. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN His design featured a shipping container storage unit with four holes in it that would release an emergency raft when it filled with water if there was a flood, monsoon or tsunami. Ben said he saw the flooding in South Dunedin and in Texas on the news and wanted to come up with a solution for it. The design could be used at a base for rescuers to help survivors. He had to do a lot of calculations to control the weight of the craft and container and keep it cost-effective. He was proud to win because he put a lot of effort into the project. In the future, Ben wanted to become an engineer. This year, the science fair had about 280 entries from years 7-13 students from schools across Otago. The entries are on display at Tūhura Otago Museum until Sunday.
Otago Daily Times
05-08-2025
- Science
- Otago Daily Times
Science fair gets a fiery addition
Oscar Kissell, of John McGlashan College, shows off the pulsejet he built for the Aurora Energy Science and Technology Fair this year. Photos: Peter McIntosh A Dunedin secondary school student is planning on making a speedy modification to his go-kart by strapping his science fair project to it. John McGlashan College student Oscar Kissell, 13, made a pulsejet engine from scratch for the Aurora Energy Science and Technology Fair this year. A pulsejet engine is simple jet engine which produces thrust through a series of pulsating explosions rather than the usual continuous combustion. Oscar said he liked engines and how they worked and thought it would be fun to make one. When he told his father about his idea, his dad loved it and helped him weld exhaust pipes they found on Trade Me, he said. The pulsejet had not been tested on a moving vehicle yet, but after the science fair, Oscar was planning on strapping it to a push go-kart his grandfather had built for him. The pulsejet fired up. "It might actually require two to get going, or three or four maybe." He was not scared of any mishaps. He wanted to become a pilot when he was older, Oscar said. This year, the science fair had about 280 entries from years 7-13 students from schools across Otago. The entries are on display at Tūhura Otago Museum until Sunday.
