Esso sponsors 2017 Southern Peninsula Network Science Fair

On Friday 3 November, the Southern Peninsula Network Science Fair hosted over 600 grade 5 and 6 students from a range of local schools in the Southern Mornington Peninsula area to showcase different science and technology programs and equipment.

News

Esso, as a major sponsor of the event, had a number of engineers attending from our operations and IT groups, providing demonstrations, showcasing new technologies and giving kids an overview of a career in science and engineering.

The kids were able to get some hands on experience in new technologies including trying 3D printers, robotics and hololens technology as well as participating in some of the more traditional sciences including chemistry, physics and biology.

Image Photo Students were able to get some hands on experience in new technologies as well as participating in sciences including chemistry, physics and biology. — **Photo** — Students were able to get some hands on experience in new technologies as well as participating in sciences including chemistry, physics and biology.

Kim Hahn, Long Island Point Plant Manager, opened the event, sharing her passion for science with the students and how it has shaped her career.

“For an oil and gas company such as Esso, science is critical to every part of our operations. We have teams of geologists, engineers, environmental scientists, mechanics, electricians – all those roles have a foundation in science – and being able to instill a passion for science in primary school children is extremely rewarding. Participating in events such as these is important to provide all kids with the opportunity to have access to latest technology,” said Kim.

Image Photo Esso's Chris Russell and Long Island Point Plant Manager Kim Hahn share their passion for science with school students. — **Photo** — Esso's Chris Russell and Long Island Point Plant Manager Kim Hahn share their passion for science with school students.

Christopher Lloyd, Principal of Somerville Secondary College said the 2017 Science Fair was a great success with a huge number of participating primary students learning about science and its application in everyday life.

“It was great to see all of the network secondary colleges participating this year in a wide variety of ways. Having working engineers and scientists (as well as graduate students in science fields) demonstrate and speak has added an authentic element to the Science Fair – careers in Science & Technology. The aims of the fair are to share best practice in teaching science and to engage students in the learning of science and the careers to which it can lead – I think, with the help of Esso Australia, we achieved these aims better this year than we have since the fair’s inception in 2014”.

Image Photo Student Markham Lewis tries out a Hololens at the 2017 Southern Peninsula Network Science Fair. — **Photo** — Student Markham Lewis tries out a Hololens at the 2017 Southern Peninsula Network Science Fair.

The event was organised by a group of enthusiastic principals known as the ‘Southern Peninsula Science Fair Committee’ on behalf of the 25 primary and secondary schools on the Mornington Peninsula with major sponsorship provided through funding from the Gippsland Bright Future Grants program. The program commenced in 2017 and has provided over $80,000 to schools in Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula to fund science and maths programs and equipment.

Image Photo — **Photo** — "The aims of the fair are to share best practice in teaching science and to engage students in the learning science and the careers to which it can lead."

Article •