22 October 2019

Teams of students from Melbourne’s Catholic schools presented their projects at this year’s STEM MAD (Making a Difference) Showcase.

The Catholic Leadership Centre was the epicentre of innovation as primary and secondary students gathered to highlight science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Almost 100 teams demonstrated their investigations into health, the environment, animal welfare, wellbeing and more with a focus on making a difference to the world. As well as students visiting other students’ displays, judges and sponsors visited each team throughout the day and awarded prizes for outstanding projects.

Major Awards (Primary)

• 1st Place: St Anne’s School, Sunbury (Water Catchment Board Game)
• 2nd Place: Nazareth School, Grovedale (Sustainable Sorting App)
• 3rd Place: Clairvaux Catholic School, Belmont (Angelman Syndrome)

Major Awards (Secondary)

• 1st Place: St Monica’s College, Epping (Robotic Arm)
• 2nd Place: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Bentleigh (Lemurs)
• 3rd Place: St Columba’s College, Essendon (Cube Chair)

Other Awards

• Future of STEM Award: Loyola College, Watsonia (Augmented Reality Sandbox)
• Encouragement Award: St Ambrose’s School, Woodend, and St Brigid’s School, Mordialloc
• CEM Archbishop’s Award for Social Justice: Aquinas College, Ringwood (Indian Sign Language)
• CEM Executive Director’s Award for Demonstrating the Catholic Ethos: St Gregory the Great School, Doncaster (Belonging Garden)
• CEM Most MAD Award: St Mary’s School, Malvern East (Portable Shower for the Homeless)
• CEM Wellbeing Award for Contribution to Student Wellbeing (Primary): Holy Saviour Parish School, Vermont South (Wellbeing App Smartwatch)
• CEM Wellbeing Award for Contribution to Student Wellbeing (Secondary): Marian College, Sunshine West (Go with the Flow App)
• NGV Most Creative Project (Primary): St Simon’s School, Rowville (Chicken Coop)
• NGV Most Creative Project (Secondary): The Bradbury Club (Hunting for the Victorian Black Panther)
• Swinburne University Best Engineered Product (Primary): St Raphael’s School, Preston West (Frog Bog)
• Swinburne University Best Engineered Product (Secondary): St Monica’s College, Epping (Automated Vehicle with Arduino)
• Zoos Victoria Best Innovation for the Environment (Primary): Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Wyndham Vale (Animal Enrichment – Hippos)
• Zoos Victoria Best Innovation for the Environment (Secondary): Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale (High-altitude Balloon Launch)
• CERES Best Innovation for Sustainability (Primary): St Joseph’s School, Springvale (Wicking Beds)
• CERES Best Innovation for Sustainability (Secondary): St Columba’s College, Essendon (Sustainable City)
• Scienceworks Most Innovative Use of Digital Technologies (Primary): Stella Maris School, Beaumaris (Wastebot 2000)
• Scienceworks Most Innovative Use of Digital Technologies (Secondary): Nazareth College, Noble Park North (Healthy Boi App)
• Monash University Award for Social Entrepreneurship: St Pius X School, Heidelberg West (Portable Solar Battery)
• AKORN Most Innovative Assistive Device: St Leonard’s School, Glen Waverley (EpiBand)
• MedTech Actuator Best Health-related Concept: Our Lady of the Nativity School, Aberfeldie (Diabetes)
• Arkaroola Best Innovation for Rural Habitat Conservation: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Bentleigh (Arkaroola Drought Relief)
• Royal Botanic Gardens Inspired by Nature Award (Primary): St Elizabeth’s School, Dandenong North (School Garden)
• Royal Botanic Gardens Inspired by Nature Award (Secondary): St Aloysius College, North Melbourne (Removal of CO2 with Green Algae)
• Immersive Education STEM Innovation Award (Primary): Our Lady of the Assumption School, Cheltenham (ADHD Playmat)
• Immersive Education STEM Innovation Award (Secondary): Marcellin College, Bulleen (Aeroplane Group)
• Maths Pathway Best Demonstration of Thinking out of the Box (Primary): Our Lady of the Rosary, Kyneton (Door with a Personality)
• Maths Pathway Best Demonstration of Thinking out of the Box (Secondary): Our Lady of Sion College, Box Hill (App for Mental Illness Communication)
• BrainPOP Free Yearly Subscription: St Bernadette’s School, Sunshine North (Hear-ring)
• Stile Education Best Demonstration of Science in Context (Primary): Sacred Heart School, Sandringham (Re-Mem-Bear)
• Stile Education Best Demonstration of Science in Context (Secondary): Penola Catholic College, Broadmeadows (Microbial Fuel Cell)