Thirty-five pieces of spaghetti, 20 marshmallows and one metre each of masking tape and string is all you need to build a structure that will hold a marshmallow for three seconds.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This was the task set for 27 students during the Engineering Young Minds Challenge at Launceston Town Hall on Monday afternoon.
Students from Riverside, Queechy and Kings Meadows high schools were paired with mentors from City of Launceston, TasRail, TasWater, GHD, Pitt & Sherry and IPD, and they had 20 minutes to do it.
City of Launceston Infrastructure Services director Shane Eberhardt said the purpose of the challenge was to raise interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathemetics).
"With the shift from a manufacturing economy to one based around innovation, we need more interest in STEM," Mr Eberhardt said.
"More engineers are leaving the industry than are coming in."
IN OTHER NEWS:
To service Launceston city, the council employs civil, transport and hydraulic engineers, environmental scientists, horticulturalists, project managers, designers, geologists and surveyors.
"There is a huge diversity of skills. This shows students what a career in STEM might look like," he said.
Queechy High School students Sam Kings and William Cook created the winning tower.
A second prize was also awarded for the most aesthetically pleasing structure.
Riverside's Hannah Flanagan and Cameron Howie tied for the Launceston Style Award with Queechy students Jack McShane and Maddie Tuakura.
Johanna Baker-Dowdell
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
Johanna has more than 22 years experience as a journalist for newspapers, magazines and online publications.
