Australian mathletes have won two gold medals at the International Mathematics Olympiad in Germany, this week, for only the second time.

The mathstars were Andrew Price (Melbourne) and Sampson Wong (Sydney) picking up gold, with other teammates picking up one silver, two bronze and an honourable mention.

Australia finished 23rd out of 104 nations. The top positions were taken out by neighbours China, Japan, Russia, South Korea and North Korea. New Zealand finished 66th.

Well done to the team, you have made Australia proud! More info and the full medal tally is available at the Australian Mathematics Trust site.

(Source & Image: Australian Mathematics Trust)

‘Anything is possible when you follow your passion…’ That’s the message from the new campaign from the South Australian Government designed to encourage students to study maths and science and look to future careers in the field.

The campaign includes an interactive website, career ambassadors and a competition to win an ultimate worksite visit.

SA Deputy Premier, Kevin Foley announced, “We need more students thinking about careers in science, engineering and technology, as well as the mechanical, electrical and construction trades.” Adding, “Choosing the right subjects in the final years of high school is a vital prerequisite to working in these dynamic sectors.”

South Australia has a high demand for these industries, particularly due to defence, research, information technology and mining sectors.

This is an excellent resource for anyone considering their future. This campaign has the same core goals as EngVibe, so we’re big fans. Check it out, the main site is here:

 www.TheresMoreToIt.com.au

Overall, this is an outstanding initiative by the SA Government.

(Source: SouthAustralia.biz | Image: TheresMoreToIt)

EngVibe will be moving from online news and information to print media this year through the form of an exciting new engineering magazine: Kinetic.

Kinetic is targeted at young Australian engineers – from university students through to grads and young professionals. The magazine will include news and coverage of events from throughout the year and will celebrate the human side of this great profession.

This annual publication has been made possible through a grant provided by the Foundation for Young Australians and with the support of other companies. Kinetic will be free, with distribution through universities and other engineering youth organisations throughout Australia. Additionally, an electronic version of the magazine will be available for download here at EngVibe.

More details will be provided over the next few months, but if you want further information or to be involved in this magazine, please get in contact: engvibe@gmail.com

Engineers create a huge range of products and systems it isn’t worth trying to list them. For Allan Alcorn his creation and legacy: Pong, the world’s first popular video game. 

Allan was a young electrical engineer when he was hired by Atari. He created a game designed to be so simple that ‘any drunk in any bar could play’.

Allan made the trip to Melbourne to visit Game On, a cool exhibition about of the history of video games at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) – featuring 125+ playable arcade and console games. He thinks himself ‘extremely lucky to have been in the right place at the right time at the start of an industry.’ 

Engineering, who knows what you’ll create. I’m sure Allan didn’t plan on changing home entertainment history with a simple 2D tennis game.

Read a news piece from the Sydney Morning Herald or learn more about Game On.

The 2008 National Science Week grants have been announced and Scinema, a science film and multimedia festival has been a recipient. 

This grant means that scientific films, dramas, documentaries and short films will be shown at over 150 locations during National Science Week from August 16 to 24. Last time the festival was screened to over 10,000 people around the country.

Scinema (pronounced with a long ‘i’ ) will play in venues in New Zealand and the UK and is a partnership between CSIRO, Cosmos Magazine and the National Museum of Australia. 

Sounds like a top initiative and a great event. Learn more at www.csiro.au/scinema.

EngVibe is full of opportunities at the moment. The latest comes from the National Press Club of Australia who has just announced a new journalism award for Aussie journos. The award is sponsored by Engineering Australia and aims to widen understanding and raise the profile of engineering as a profession as well as encourage the media to acknowledge the engineering profession.

As their press release says, Engineers Australia and the National Press Club hope that this growing awareness to prompt young Australians considering their career options to realise the exciting and important opportunities available to them in this profession.

The award is open to all journalists including freelance journos who have been resident in Australia and working as journalists between 1 July 07 and 30 June 08. Applications close Monday, 30 June 08 with the award to be presented in Australian Engineering Week at the National Press Club.

Suggested topics include water policy, climate change, infrastructure, education, engineering skills shortages and research and development.

For more info visit www.npc.org.au.

Engineers Australia magazine is inviting submissions for a national photo competition about engineering. The competition is open to engineers and non-engineers (including photographers) and has a cash prize of $1000. The broad theme is engineering and is designed to encapsulate the essence of engineering and can include:

·        The benefits of engineering to society

·        The human face of engineering

·        Inspiring and exciting work that engineers do

·        An engineering failure

Photos can be monochrome, colour, electronic or film and must have been taken after 1 Jan 2005. Computer graphics are not eligible. Residents working in Australia or Australians working abroad are eligible and the photo can be of subjects outside Australia.

The winner will be selected by Engineers Australia magazine and the winner will be announced in National Engineering Week. A selection of the top photos will be published in the August edition of the magazine. 

Deadline for entries is Fri 13 June. 

Submission for electronic photos is via email to dgeorg@engineersmedia.com.au or sent on CD/DVD/Print to Dietrich Georg, Engineers Media, PO Box 588, Crows Nest 1585. For more info, contact the email address above or call (02) 9438 1533.

Thirty three designs from young Australian engineers and designers have made the shortlist for the 2008 Australian Design Awards – Dyson Student Awards.

James Dyson, the man after whom the awards are named has this take on engineers and designers. ‘Design is not just about how something looks, but how it works. I don’t see a difference between a designer and an engineer, and I don’t want to see a difference. A designer should be both.’ – James Dyson.

The products which made the final round are a great collection of designs and innovation. They include a backpack for motorcyclists which lights up in low light conditions, a window louvre system which incorporates solar panels, a sink which incorporates a water recycling unit and a pen which converts text into digital and can send SMS – D:Scribe.

The finalists will be announced March 25 with the final winner being awarded on May 30.

Good luck to designers. Read more from the Sydney Morning Herald or from the Australian Design Awards site.

Year 12 students who are considering a career in science, engineering and technology are getting a taste at the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF).

The NYSF is a two week program held at the Australian National Uni in Canberra where approximately 140 students get the opportunity to visit leading research institutions, meet scientists and engineers and gain a greater understanding on what options are available to them. 

The program covers pure research, applied research and engineering in both physical and biological sciences in equal doses. The focus for human biology is on biomedical research and biotech, so students come away with a broad appreciation of the profession.

After the intensive fortnight in January, students participate in uni seminars and industry site visits in March and April and remain in contact with the network of professionals and other students met throughout the program. 

These summer programs are a great chance to see firsthand the opportunities available. This forum looks similar to the Honeywell Engineering Summer School another great initiative. Good luck to everyone, coordinators and students – I’m sure everyone involved can look forward to a great couple of weeks of science ahead.

For more information about the program and for information about applying for next year (‘The people that go the NYSF aren’t your stereotypical science geek at all! – NYSF site) visit the official website. Fore more, read a detailed Wikipedia article and an article about one of the participants, Sophie Dawson (pictured), on the AdelaideNow website.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Adam Spencer, Australia’s (and our) favourite geeks are on ABC in the new year.

Their show ‘Sleek Geeks’ will air on Thursdays at 8pm from Jan 3 to Feb 7 in 2008. They will be joined with Yumi Stynes, Ruben Meerman and Dr Stephen Bosi to answer some fascinating scientific questions that pop up in everyday life.

The episode guide looks good, with topics that include ‘how Da Vinci was really a dirty old man’, Adam getting hypnotised and the story of Mike the headless chicken.

Visit Sleek Geek HQ @ the ABC website here.