With the biennial festival of Wings Over Wairarapa preparing for liftoff in just under three weeks, excitement is also building about the event’s three-day science, technology, engineering, and mathematics [STEM] programme, which aims to promote and inspire students to consider flight and aerospace careers.
The Take Flight [TF] programme –supported by Masterton Trust Lands Trust, Marops, L3 Harris, REAP Wairarapa, and Lockheed Martin – is seeking to improve accessibility to STEM education opportunities, particularly for females, Māori and Pasifika students, and rural schools.
Throughout the three-day programme, education providers from Victoria University and Waikato University will be providing students with information about pathways and career opportunities in the aviation industry.
School students will be able to take part in activities such as aircrew maths, rocketry, virtual reality, digital fabrication, 3D printing, engineering and maintenance, simulation, robotics, circuitry, and drones and other unmanned aircraft.
There will also be exhibitions from Air New Zealand, Altivy, Drone Legends Aotearoa, House of Science, and EVolocity.
“It’s very exciting to be able to expand the STEM programme, which was massively popular in 2021, into the TF programme for 2023,” TF manager Jennifer Anderson said.
“One piece of feedback we had from 2021 was the desire for a targeted programme towards secondary students who were keen to explore pathways and career opportunities. It is all about highlighting how varied and exciting the aviation industry is and of course leaving a legacy for our next generation.”
NanoGirl Labs will be on display, with live storytelling and immersive science experiments on aero-science and street science.
Students will have the chance to experiment with Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner VR Trainer – a tool astronauts use to practice operating the controls of the CST-100 Starliner to dock with the International Space Station.
“We know how crucial this programme is for delivering unique access and hands-on experience for youth to learn and engage with key industry professionals,” Anderson said.
“By connecting the students, the education providers, and employers in the industry, we will hopefully continue to see growth and interest in our future generations to come.”
Tickets are currently on sale for the Wings Over Wairarapa, held at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, from November 24 – 26, 2023. Saturday and Sunday’s tickets also include admission access to the TF programme.
For more information or to purchase tickets to Wings Over Wairarapa, visit www.wings.org.nz
