Solar power student lure to a career

Adelaide Advertiser
Thursday 25/10/2007 Page: 24

UNLEY High School students have been lured towards careers in engineering, thanks to the hands on renewable energy projects being offered at the school. Five students are in an industry project with the University of South Australia to build a solar powered water pump for Mawson Lakes. They have developed panels and the pump in the school's technical laboratory. The equipment is to be used to regulate water levels. The pump is expected to be built by the end of the school year.

Year 11 students Adil Soh-Lim, 16, Caroline Chai, 16, and Ricki Deng, 17, said they now were interested in careers in engineering. "I participated in the robotics program last semester and wasn't interested in electronics but just continued with the industry project and it has been interesting and educational," Adil said. "I wouldn't say you could use solar power as our main source of power right now but if you invest in it, it could definitely be used. "If we are going to invest in clean coal, we should also invest in solar power and invest in wind energy." The students are mentored by scientists from Adelaide's universities to ensure they have up-to-date skills.

Unley High School is one of 500 schools in SA to receive a solar energy Lab to provide more students hands on solar electronics experience. The lab includes light and sound attachments for solar panels and teaching resources provided by The Advertiser's Newspapers in Education section. The kit has been sponsored by TAFE SA, which offers courses to help people enter careers in renewable energy and electronics.

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