Aurora Energy celebrates milestone 20 year sponsorship of science and technology fair

A nationwide study on how sleep affects adolescent pupils; the discovery of two planetary nebulas; the creation of a machine called The Cubeinator that may be better at solving Rubik’s cube than humans; an investigation into whether people remember the letters of the alphabet or numbers better; a survey of Dunedin people’s parking experiences; and a deep dive into whether face masks can really protect you.

These are just a small number of the thousands of innovative, thoughtful and groundbreaking projects students from across Otago have presented at the Aurora Energy Otago Science and Technology Fair over the past two decades.

Since 2004, Aurora Energy has been the prime sponsor of the Fair, which gives the region’s brightest and most curious young minds a platform to showcase their skills.

Aurora Energy People and Culture Director Candice Maree said the organisation is proud to foster science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) across Otago in what has become a key event for the region and for students.

“We are always impressed by the quality and diversity of projects Otago’s young scientists present. These are students who have bright and fresh ideas. Fostering curious minds is important to us as we know many organisations, including Aurora Energy, look for this in their future workforce.”

The number of entries each year continues to grow, showing the growing importance and interest in STEM as a career.

The 2023 Fair attracted an impressive 298 entries, representing 400 students from 23 schools in Dunedin and across Otago, and this year’s is shaping up to be just as big.

Last year, Aurora Energy hosted their inaugural ‘behind-the-scenes tour’, which is open to winners of the Fair. The tour includes a visit to the organisation’s network operations centre, as well as one of the Dunedin substations. “It’s an exciting time to work in the electricity industry, and our staff enjoy showing the students around and speaking to them about career opportunities,” said Maree.

This year’s Fair is taking place in Wānaka from 8-9 August, followed by Dunedin from 12-18 August. The Fair is open to the public from 14-18 August in the Hutton Theatre of the Otago Museum.  

“We wish students all the best as they present their projects over the coming weeks, and look forward to recognising and celebrating their efforts,” said Maree.