MAD about using technology for good
Schools
More than 100 teams of aspirational young inventors from Catholic schools across Australia gathered in Adelaide last month to turn their ideas into world beating solutions.
Held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, the annual STEM MAD (Make A Difference) showcase was hosted by Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) and sponsored by Catholic Network Australia.
From sustainability solutions to accessibility tools and wellbeing support devices, the showcase highlighted the power of learning with purpose and making a difference to many different communities.
Students showed off their innovations which included a low-cost Braille translator, a holographic stop sign and a posture-prompting chair.
CESA Executive Director 
Dr Neil McGoran said the event demonstrated the ability of young people to use their learning for positive impact.
“It’s more than experiments and equations,” Dr McGoran said.
“It’s empathy, innovation and young people working to make a real difference in the lives of others. These are the qualities that will shape their futures – and ours.”
Students presented their work, both in-person and online to judges, industry professionals and fellow students and talked about how science and technology can drive change.
Special guest speaker Isabella McCulloch, who began her STEM journey as a primary student at Star of the Sea School before graduating from St Michael’s College, inspired students thinking of a STEM career with anecdotes from her role with
the Australian Space Discovery Centre.
Among the winners were Year 4 and 5 students Daniel, Evan, Leo and Ethan from St Raphael’s School (Adelaide). They won the coveted STEM in Space primary award with their inventive project Instant Pickup, an app that reduces traffic congestion, improves safety and supports families during school pick up times.
Principal Emma Fowler said the award, sponsored by the Andy Thomas Space Foundation, reflected not only the boys’ creativity but the school’s culture of innovation and faith-inspired inquiry.
“Through our STEM program, we encourage children to think bravely, explore deeply, and design with purpose,” Ms Fowler said.
“Daniel, Leo, Evan and Arlo’s project shows how education can empower students to imagine a better future and then build it.”
Other SA award winners were: Accessible Braille Translator, Star of the Sea School; Phonics Device, Kildare College (finalist), and The Echovault, St Joseph’s Memorial School.
A full list of winners can be found at cesa.catholic.edu.au/news.
