The Commissioner for Children and Young People has opened her 2022 ‘Space to Dream Exhibition’ featuring 20 designs chosen from more than 92 entries received from 32 schools across the State.
With the exhibition on display at Lot Fourteen, the Commissioner, Helen Connolly, said an estimated 12,000 students completed the ‘Space to Dream Challenge’ this year.
Now in its third year, the Commissioner’s Space to Dream Challenge supports students to learn design thinking skills and apply them to the design of a toy or gadget for someone their age who is ‘moving to Mars’.
Caley, a Year 4 student at Bellevue Heights Primary School, achieved the grand prize this year, winning a 3D Printer for her school.
The Commissioner selected Caley’s Robot Pet as the highest-ranked design for 2022 for its caring nature.
According to Caley, the Robot Pet was designed to comfort people who liked pets and it gave them a way to communicate with people back on Earth and also warm people up.
Commissioner Conolly devised the Space to Dream Challenge to inspire the next generation of South Australian space entrepreneurs and innovators.
“Every year I’m excited to see what students come up with,” Commissioner Connelly said.
“They always surprise me, which makes it difficult to select which entries will be featured in the annual exhibition and awarded prizes,” shey said.
“All children and young people in SA should be able to engage with the digital world and access its benefits.”
She said that was why she made her Challenge suitable for every school student and adaptable to any age and digital literacy level.
The Australian Space Discovery Centre is to display the top-rated designs in the Endeavour Room at the McEwin Building at Lot Fourteen through to 20 January 2023.
More information about the ‘Space to Dream Travelling Exhibition’ can be accessed at this PS News link.
