Talking robots, drones tasked with sports analysis, paper rockets, computer game coding, interactive architectural, engineering and product design displays and chocolate brownies served with a dash of dry ice . . . Otago Polytechnic’s Science in Action Day had something to satisfy every appetite.

Part of the 2018 International Science Festival in Dunedin, Science in Action Day enables secondary school students to explore the exciting science behind a wide range of programmes offered by Otago Polytechnic.

The event, held on Tuesday 10 July and centred around the Hub, also featured renowned science educator and communicator Ken Silburn, who conducted a paper rocket launching session before facilitating a hands-on workshop for educators, then making a keynote address at an open public lecture.

Ken’s hands-on workshop gave educators insights into how he engages students in STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

The future of robotics was also on display.

Created by SoftBank Robotics in 2006, NAO 6 is an interactive and customisable robot that has become a benchmark in the world of research and education, as well as in healthcare (in retirement homes and hospitals), retail and tourism. Now, many thousands of NAO are being used in more than 70 countries around the world.

Read about what some of the students thought


Published on 11 Jul 2018

Orderdate: 11 Jul 2018
Expiry: 31 Dec 2018