Bright sparks attend renewable electricity workshop

Year 10 students with an interest in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) areas were selected to participate in the event.

The Deni High careers department partnered with TAFE NSW regional industry education partnerships senior project officer Katie Friedlieb on the opportunity, which involved experts from a range of renewables areas and established organisations.

The first day of the workshop saw representatives from Windlab, an Australian renewable energy company, speak with the students about the possibilities of STEM related careers in energy production industries.

Pete Woodlands from the electrotechnology department at Leeton TAFE also shared some simple ideas behind what renewable energy is and how it is produced.

On day two, students all did some basic electric circuit work, made paper fans and solar fans - with solar unit powered fans that spun automatically in the sunlight - before being engaged in theory lessons.

Mr Woodlands said the renewable electricity sector presents many career opportunities for the Deni High students.

The workshop also acts as a transition for students who may be interested in other fields in STEM.

“(Renewables) is more than just electricity,” he said.

“While electricity is the main focus, there are so many opportunities in the industry which can come from having basic knowledge about it.

“Even for students interested in engineering, this can lead onto electrical engineering, civil engineering, structural engineering.

“There’s three right there which can all involve things learned from this workshop.”

Mr Woodlands said the students were getting a combination of practical and theoretical lessons about the past and future of electric technologies.

“When we’re teaching kids about where we’re going with electricity production, I like to talk to them about where we’ve come from and why things work the way they do as there are so many opportunities in this space.”