In 2000, the Vernier Foundation set up a schools program with the theme that children create presentations on How things are made or How things work. The program, in its original form, ran until 2003. During 2004, the trustees revamped how the program was structured and renamed it the Techno Challenge, which has run annually since then.
The Vernier Foundation Inc Presents "The Techno Challenge"
The Techno Challenge is open to all Years 5 and 6 children throughout Victoria.
The aim of the Challenge is primarily to stem the recent decline in attracting young people to Manufacturing and Engineering based occupations, whilst getting the students minds thinking about these occupations at a young age.
The students are encouraged to select any item and create a Powerpoint Media Player or DVD presentation detailing either How Things Work or How Things are Made. A majority of the presentations entered are Powerpoint presentations.
Children selected items ranging from Pendulum Clocks, to MP3 players, cameras, keyboards, to aqua cars. The presentations were exceptional and the judges had a hard task selecting the finalists.
Judging is conducted by independent judges over 3 stages, with rural entries being judged with other rural entries and similarly metropolitan entries, until the final round of judging where both rural and metropolitan entries are judged together.
The Techno Challenge runs throughout Term 2 annually. Critical dates for 2011 are:
Registration by Friday 1st April, 2011
Challenge runs from Monday 2nd May, 2011 to Friday 24th June, 2011
Judging will be complete by Friday 19th August, 2011
Award Ceremony will be on Thursday 8 September, 2011
The Awards Ceremony provides a forum for the winning students to display their topic to Vernier Society members and to receive their prizes.
Peter Carey
Challenge Co-ordinator
PO Box 572
Toorak Vic 3142
Ph : 0412 464 340
Email : technochallenge@vernier.org.au
$5,000 of Lego Robotics
Prizes Courtesy of 
$2,500 of Scientific Equipment
Prizes Courtesy of 
$1,000 of Electroflash Electronic Kits
Prizes courtesy of 
Scienceworks Class Pass courtesy of 
CSIRO School Program Courtesy of 
In addition to the above prizes which are awarded to each school, the student(s) receive the following prizes for themselves.
Sarah Griffen, Sarah Goossens and Elise Gimour from Heatherton Christian College with their entry "Magnetic Hover Train".
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Zac Milczak, Billy Ismail and Brittany Hazelwood - Smith from Beveridge Primary School with their entry "Catapult".
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Jason Leach, Edison Jewson, Christoffel Janse van Vuuren and Lachlan Caddy from Christian College Geelong with their entry "Photon Powered Air Boat".
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Aron Lockhart from Loch Primary School with his entry "How a Gearbox works".
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TianaStavros, Angelia Psarakos, Stephanie Mesourouni and Angelique Gentikoglou from St Johns College Preston with their entry "Crystal Girl Power".
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Josh Wigley and Justin Thomas from Ruskin Park Primary School with their entry: "Boomerang".
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Shinae Tobin-Salzman and Maddi Wittmann from Woodford Primary School with their entry: "How a Sewing Machine Works".
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Josh Palmer, Aaron Black and Keagan Cole from Flinders Christian College with their entry: "Solar Powered Boat".
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Kirby Mills and Ella-Jane Riley from Baranduda Primary School with their entry : "How a Solar Box Cooker Works".
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Alysha Selvey, Cailyn Yole, and Emily Armstrong from Beaconhills College with their entry: "Automata".
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Lydia Hanrahan and Sarah McNamara from Benalla Primary School with their entry entitled Making a Solar Powered Car.
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Ashley Thomas from Ruskin Park Primary School with his entry entitled How a Piano Works.
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Jack Dowling and Sean Abasszade from Mount View Primary School with their entry entitled Scratchmaster.
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Rachel Mark and Kaminjarr Lacey-Bird from Warragul Primary School with their entry entitled The Broom Broom Car.
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Vlash Video
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Caitlyn & Lauren from Derrimut Heath Primary School with their entry entitled Water Rockets.
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Matthew Roylance, Dylan Fulford and Blake Spiller from Baranduda Primary School with their entry entitled How a Torch Works.
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PDF (3.7MB)
Hayden McGill and Zeb Humphreys from Mt Martha Primary School with their entry entitled Three Wheeled Bike.
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Myra Davidson and Holly Stewart from Parkhill Primary School with their entry entitled The Dream Bedside Companion.
View Presentation as Powerpoint (3 MB) -- PDF (1MB)
Breannan Hibbs, Hannah Accardi, Eliza Lake and Jessica Polglaze from Warragul Primary School with their entry entitled Our Techno Lighthouse.
View Presentation as:
Powerpoint (2.2 MB) -- PDF (.9MB) --
Movie (3MB)
Amy Philippo, Britany Damons, Katherine Mitrevski, Meryen Cansever and Genevieve Meertens from Derrimut Heath Primary School with their entry entitled Insulin Pumps.
View Presentation as Powerpoint (3.4MB) -- PDF (1.5MB).
Sean Gronich and Brittany Sweettenham from Ruskin Park Primary School with their entry entitled Solar Car
View Presentation as Powerpoint (462KB) -- PDF (1.2MB)
E-Laine Yeap from Glendal Primary School with her entry entitled Camera
View Presentation as Powerpoint (382KB ) -- PDF (240KB )
Pandhu Saerang and Aleishe Connell from Buxton Primary School with their entry entitled The Making of Glass
View Presentation as Powerpoint (307KB ) -- PDF (94KB )
Ruth Singe and Jaclyn Allwood from Baranduda Primary School with their entry entitled How an Electric Guitar Works
View Presentation as Powerpoint (3.3 MB ) -- PDF (355KB )
Thuc Le and Aileen Truong from Glen Waverly Primary School with their entry entitled Yo Yo
View Presentation as Powerpoint (426KB ) -- PDF ( 429KB )
