For the fourth consecutive time, CRISiSLab is set to host the CRISiSLab Challenge a science and technology-based competition for high schoolers in Wellington. This year's challenge kicked off with the launch day held on March 7th, attended by over 100 high schoolers from 14 schools.
For the 2nd consecutive year, this year's challenge focuses on developing a tsunami alerting system, aiming to showcase students' diverse skills in coding, engineering, design, and presentation.
The launch day began with a speech from Dr. Natalie Balfour, Head of Research at Toka Tū Ake EQC our main sponsor from the inception of the competition. This was followed by two great presentations, one on Tsunami Science and research by Laura Hughes of Victoria University of Wellington and GNS Science about the Science behind Tsunami and then Dr. Grant Wilson, Senior Hazard Risk Management Advisor at the National Emergency Agency (NZ) presented on National Tsunami System GNS Science. Afterwards, PhD student Jess Allen and Dr. Andrea Silva, a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Otago, inspired the participants by sharing their experience on Geoscience and Coding.
The presentations were followed by Dr. Marion Tan detailing the challenge instructions and expectations. Afterwards, participants had the opportunity to hear the experiences of the previous year's winners. The session ended with a comprehensive hands-on workshop organised by the CRISiSLab tech team. This workshop is a new addition to the competition and has provided hands-on engagement for participants to work with the sensor kits and help gain essential insights into how to access them and acquire data. Can't wait to see how these teams are going to perform on the demonstration day of the competition scheduled to be held on the 25th of June.
Our appreciation goes to our CRISiSLab team, students and staff of the JCDR. team. We are also grateful for our generous sponsors EQC Toka Tū Ake, Resilience to Nature's Challenges, Greater Wellington Regional Council, East Coast LAB, University of Otago, and NIWA. We eagerly anticipate the students' return on June 25th for the demonstration day.
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