Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Model Solar Vehicle Challenge is a competition held annually at Scienceworks in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. The challenge gives school age children a chance to design and build a car or boat, and more recently a Mars Rover, that operates solely on solar power
. It is run by MSV, a voluntary organisation created to administer the challenge. The 2010 event (Car and Junior Boat Divisions) was held on Saturday 16 October, and Sunday 17 October.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The challenge gives school age children a chance to design and build a car or boat, and more recently a Mars Rover, that operates solely on solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
. It is run by MSV, a voluntary organisation created to administer the challenge. The 2010 event (Car and Junior Boat Divisions) was held on Saturday 16 October, and Sunday 17 October.
History
A 'solar car challenge for schools' was first thought of in 1987 during the first World Solar Challenge. Everyone who attended - car makers, staff and students from universities and secondary schools - believed it to be a great experience. Two men, Paul Wellington (teacher at Chisholm Institute of Technology, part of Monash University), and Ted Mellor (Warragul Technical School), felt that such an opportunity should be available to a wider range of students, because at the time, the high cost of making a life-size solar car meant that only rich schools could afford it. Thus, it was decided that a competition for model solar cars would be created; model cars being much cheaper and less time-consuming to make than life-size cars, but still requiring the same amount of thought and skill. Paul and Ted assembled a team of science and technology teachers, curriculum developers, sponsors, representatives and former World Solar Challenge team members (today known as MSV), and with the financial support of Energy Victoria, they established a Model Solar Car Challenge in Victoria. The first race was run in May 1990, at the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne.Sponsors
The Sponsors of the event are as follows:- Swinburne University of TechnologySwinburne University of TechnologySwinburne University of Technology is an Australian public dual sector university based in Melbourne, Victoria. The institution was founded by the Honourable George Swinburne in 1908 and achieved university status in June 1992...
- Scienceworks Museum (Melbourne)Scienceworks Museum (Melbourne)Scienceworks is a world renowned science museum in Melbourne, Australia. It is a venue of Museum Victoria which administers the cultural and scientific collections of the State of Victoria...
, who have hosted the event since 1991 - City of BoroondaraCity of BoroondaraThe City of Boroondara is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia. It is located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.This area was originally occupied by the Wurundjeri, Indigenous Australians of the Kulin nation....
- Engineers AustraliaEngineers AustraliaThe Institution of Engineers Australia, often shortened to IEAust and trading as Engineers Australia, is a professional body and not-for-profit organisation dedicated to being the national forum for the advancement of the engineering field within Australia...
- Rotary ClubRotary InternationalRotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
of Balwyn