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While most school students were off to the movies or the mall during the recent school holidays, three Rodney College senior students visited Mars.
At least that was the challenge they faced as participants in Grapple 23, held in Christchurch.
Bhavya Sharma, Jeremiah Guevara and Reef Brown were among about 20 students from around NZ chosen to compete in the annual event, designed to test the creativity, imagination and technological knowledge of the participants.
The students faced the challenge of being the first humans to settle Mars, where they met a variety of space-specific challenges including sustainable water supplies, soil quality and the health impacts of lessened gravity. Their challenge was to identify an issue and spend a week working on an innovative solution.
“We were told to let our imaginations run wild while trying to think of the backstory for a specific product that would help make human life easier on the planet.,” Sharma says.
“We had a wide range of tools available to use to aid our design, such as multiple 3D printers, CNC router, laser cutter, vinyl cutter, iPads, MacBooks, Apple pencils and multiple other techy things.
“If we were ever in need of something that wasn’t already available in the workshop, we just had to ask and it would be organised for us ASAP.”
Sharma says it was an opportunity to use tools that they would not normally have access to.
“We also learned how to work with people we didn’t know and come together as a team. We all learned a lot of new and different skills.
“I loved hanging out with new people and making new friends, as well as the late night walks, the delicious food, bonding with the other contestants and especially the E scooter, which I managed to travel 70km on over the five-day period!”
Sharma said he would definitely recommend the event to other Year 12 and 13 students who had the opportunity to attend.
“It opens up new opportunities for your future, as well as providing new experiences and memories. The participants are given access to equipment which their school may or may not be able to provide, and it allows your imagination to run free.”
Grapple 23 was organised by the YMCA and the event’s main sponsor was Architectus.
