23-10-11 - The Education Program Wrap Up

Throughout October, Aurora’s education duo Martin Brook and Nick Grant made their way through the Northern Territory stopping a Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs, Coober Pedy and Port Augusta.

Beginning only days before the Veolia 2011 World Solar Challenge, the program gave insight to the communities of what the challenge is about and showcased the cars and the technology that underpins them.

Demonstrating Southern Aurora in live driving demos Aurora provided an unusual experience to the isolated communities of the outback.

Along with educational partners RiAus, the team was also joined by Discovery Channel presenter Dr. Zoz Brooks who was able to successfully cook damper for the residents of Tennant Creek using a solar-powered oven.

Education Outreach Program leader Martin Brook said the chance to interact with these communities was rare and that his team enjoyed every moment of it.

“To be able to give the students and members of these communities the chance to see cutting edge sustainable mobility technology is great,” he said.

“We are providing a service to the public and showing them that Solar does have practical uses whether that be through Zoz Brooks’ solar-powered oven or with Southern Aurora.”

At every stop the education program visited a school in the local community and were greeted by eager students from kindergarten to year 12.

“They (the students) make you feel like you aren’t just talking at them, but that they do take in what you're saying,” Martin Brook said.

“It’s great that we can let them get up close and personal with a solar car and Southern Aurora makes for a great educational tool.

The program finished with a bang in Victoria Square where Aurora gave public speeches and viral interviews including an interview with Susan Sun Nunamaker from http://sunisthefuture.net.

Michelin Press Manager Jane Rowe joined the team in Victoria Square to support the educational program by providing insight to Michelin's solar car racing developed tyre.

Auroras education duo along with Zoz Brooks fielded interviews from WIN news, ABC news and local media throughout the duration of the program.

The Aurora Educational Outreach program thanks the Royal Institute of Australia for their assistance in helping coordinate the program and the World Solar Challenge for making this whole experience possible.