Mars

Missi n
 STEM Innovation Experience
2018 Task Information

Mars Mission

Introduction – The Mars Mission Proposal

Travelling to Mars is a goal for many organisations. NASA has already sent orbiters, landers
and rovers to Mars. In 2012 the Curiosity rover collected valuable radiation data and the
Opportunity rover has sent nearly 250,000 photos to Earth since landing in 2004 and
continues to send information home in 2018. The Mars 2020 is scheduled to launch two
years from now and will be able to drill for rock samples and look for ancient planetary life.
NASA has set the goal of humans reaching the red planet by the 2030’s.

Elon Musk and the commercial space agency called SpaceX are setting their sights on cargo
missions by 2022 and manned missions with up to 100 people per trip by 2024 to create an
inhabited city on the planet.

Other organisations are joining the space race as well, with Mars One looking for supporters
to help fund their goal of establishing a permanent human settlement on Mars.

Australia was the third country in the world to launch a satellite into orbit from Woomera in
the 1960’s and is eager to once again join the leading space exploring nations. The
development of our own space agency was announced on 25 September 2017. This will
allow Australia to be part of the global space industry, worth an estimated $400 billion.

The next step will be the Mars Mission.

“The Earth is a cradle of humanity, but mankind cannot stay in the cradle
forever.”
Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

“Mars is there, waiting to be reached.”

Buzz Aldrin
Mars Mission Proposal

The STEM Innovation Experience (STEMIE) 2018 will focus on developing a proposal for the
Mars Mission. This will include problem solving for many aspects of the journey and landing
requirements.

Mars Mission – The Requirements

The Mars Mission proposal will require the following tasks to be completed.

• Investigation on human physiology and developing astronaut selection criteria and

prescribed exercise plans for astronauts on long missions, as outlined in the Science
Component.
• Development of an Environmental Control System using the PrIO (Programmable
Input/Output) boards to detect and respond to changes in environmental conditions,
as outlined in the Technology Component.
• The planning, design and construction of an automated vehicle and transit pod, as
outlined in the Engineering Component.
• Creation of a tender for the catering component of the Mars Mission, with
consideration of the requirements as set out in the Mathematics Component.

Mars Mission –

The proposal will be in the format of a summary report and will need to cover the
requirements above.

https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/press/opportunity/20120117a/PIA15279_3rovers-stand_D2011_1215_D521_br.jpg
STEMIE – The Three Parts

STEMIE 2018 will consist of three parts:

• The Learning Phase

o This is completed at school and work is submitted through the UniSA Connect
STEMIE Moodle site. The purpose of this phase is to demonstrate the
learning that has occurred within the experience and to provide evidence that
students have met the requirements to qualify for the Regional Showcase
event.

• The Regional Showcase

o This part will be held at the local campus of the University of South Australia
for schools in each of the regions. Schools participating in Metro Cluster 1
and Metro Cluster 2 will attend the Regional Showcase event at the Samsung
SMARTSchool, University of South Australia, Magill campus.

Schools participating in the Mount Gambier Region and the Whyalla Region
will attend the Regional Showcase event at the Mount Gambier campus and
Whyalla campus respectively.

• The State Final

o The winner from each Regional Showcase event, in addition to two wildcard
schools (selected by the panel of judges after all Regional Showcase events)
will compete in unseen STEM challenges at the Samsung SMARTSchool,
University of South Australia, Magill campus.

STEMIE – Referencing

Research elements used within STEMIE Checkpoint Submissions and the Regional
Showcase need to be referenced. The preferred style of referencing may vary between each
school participating in STEMIE 2018.
UniSA Connect recommends using the SACE Guidelines for Referencing Documents when
submitting work for assessment within STEMIE. Electronic links can be found in the
“Information and Resources” section of the UniSA Connect STEMIE Moodle site.
Student Guide to Referencing and Guidelines for Referencing documents can be found at
this link https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/learning/research-advice/referencing

STEMIE – The Learning Phase

School Leaders and Teachers can choose how they implement The Learning Phase in their
school. Components within The Learning Phase have been developed to be scalable from a
small group of students to multiple classes interacting in the experience
Throughout the Learning Phase, there are three (3) identified checkpoints, where progress
must be submitted. The work to be submitted in these progress updates includes both
required and optional aspects. For a school to qualify for the Regional Showcase event,
they must submit a minimum number of points of work to a satisfactory standard.
The range of assessment tasks requires team members to hold varied skill-sets, so working
in teams with complementary abilities is advantageous. There are five key components
within The Learning Phase – the Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and
Overall Summary components.
Notes:
 STEM Innovation Experience
Mars Mission

Science Component

Science Component – Background Information

Humans have long desired to travel into space but there are many factors that impact on the
human body and must be considered. There are physical factors such as exposure to
radiation and the lack of gravity during space travel impacting on muscle mass, bone density
and even changing blood pressure. There are also psychological factors that need to be
considered such as the isolation and confinement during the mission.

Space travel has developed substantially since Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was
launched into space in 1961 but with missions now aiming to reach other planets, the
journey alone will be many months in duration, leading to a new set of potential problems.

Science Component – The Requirements

As a group, investigate the aspects that need to be considered when astronauts

experience extended durations in microgravity.

Aspects that must be considered include researching current space travel concerns and
methods used to reduce muscle atrophy. Additionally, an investigation into human
physiology factors is to be completed.

Develop a set of selection criteria for the astronauts and a prescribed exercise plan for
their Mars Mission journey.

This can be achieved by completing some, or all of the following:

• Research previous space travel missions and how their length compares to the
proposed Mars Mission.
• Create and conduct a practical investigation methodology to observe a relevant
aspect of physiology of the human body.
• Analyse results and draw conclusions from the practical investigation.
• Adhere to school laboratory safety when conducting the practical investigation.
• Discuss and critically analyse the practical investigation methodology, with reference
to strengths and improvements.
• Summarise considerations with reference to the Mars Mission and if it is feasible for
humans to travel that distance, what are the selection criteria for astronauts on the
mission and what will they be required to do in order to maintain their fitness.
Science Component – Practical Investigation

The practical investigation methodology needs to be created to account for an aspect of

human physiology. The purpose for conducting this investigation is to support the research
about the impact of space travel on humans, and account for some strategies to reduce
muscle atrophy or neuromuscular impairments during space travel while on the proposed
Mars Mission.

Ideas for this investigation could include:

• how well circulatory or respiratory systems recover from various activities
• fitness or strength testing over a period of time
• reaction rate testing
• ability to physically function due to extreme stimulus
• Access to energy drinks/ caffeine and how they impact on the body
• Holding your breath or breathing through apparatus and the effect on the body
• Other relevant sets of conditions.

The methodology for the investigation can vary from school to school, however the format for
the submitted practical write-up tasks must include the following headings:

Practical investigation methodology of human physiology experiment

• Hypothesis
• Aim
• Materials
• Method
• Safety

Results and conclusion from human physiology experiment

• Results
• Conclusion

Discussion and analysis of human physiology investigation methodology

• Accuracy and Precision of Methodology
• Sources of Random Error
• Sources of Systematic Error
• Suggested Improvements and limitations

Science Component – Elements for the Regional Showcase event

At the Regional Showcase event, students representing their school will be required to
deliver a formal presentation to a Mars Mission Board Representative (UniSA Connect
Officer) regarding their astronaut selection criteria and health and exercise plan for the
astronauts during transit.

This presentation will be held in a tutorial room close to the main Regional Showcase event
area. A projector with HDMI input will be provided to assist with the presentation if required.

The presentation should be a maximum of seven (7) minutes, with up to an

additional three (3) minutes for questions from the Mars Mission Representative
(UniSA Connect Officer).
 STEMIE Regional Showcase
Science Component
School: ___________________________________________

Marks Total
Criteria
Available Marks

1. Summary of conditions in space travel, living requirements and

3 2 1 0 N/A
concerns.

2. Justified astronaut selection criteria, who makes the shortlist, how

3 2 1 0 N/A
the astronauts will be chosen.

3. Incorporation of research and practical results into presentation to

make informed decisions about the justified astronaut selection 3 2 1 0 N/A
criteria and a prescribed exercise plan for their Mars Mission journey.

4. Delivery of content knowledge, including the ability to answer

3 2 1 0 N/A
questions posed by UniSA Connect staff.

5. Communication and interaction with UniSA Connect staff, including

3 2 1 0 N/A
the use of visual aids and appropriate presentation timing.

Total Marks: /15

Notes:
 STEM Innovation Experience
Mars Mission

Technology Component

Technology Component – Background Information

Space travel and potential colonisation of other planets requires strict management of living
conditions. Despite many important similarities between the climate on Earth and Mars such
as seasonal changes and weather patterns, there are still many differences that make
survival reliant on controlling the conditions.

Movies like The Martian have highlighted the need for Environmental Control Systems. Air
supply, temperature, light levels and available water all need to be managed for humans to
survive in these hostile environments.

Technology Component – The Requirements

As a group, design, develop, prototype and test an Arduino coded Environmental Control
System (ECS) to detect and respond to environmental changes.

The device must detect light and temperature changes and respond to these changes.
More sophisticated technology can be included to detect and respond to other
environmental conditions.

This can be achieved by completing some, or all of the following:

• Construct a PrIO (Programmable Input/ Output) board.

• Brainstorm and research environmental conditions that would need to be monitored.
• Develop and code a working Environmental Control System (ECS) device that can
detect a change in these conditions, using Arduino and appropriate code comment
conventions.
• Investigate and develop additional features of the ECS device to respond to a
change in conditions.
• Evaluate the development of the prototype and final ECS device which will be used
for testing at the Regional Showcase event.
Technology Component – ECS Device Production

Using the provided PrIO boards, and other materials as required, create an Environmental
Control System (ECS) that will detect changes to environmental conditions and respond to
those changes appropriately.

The intended purpose of this ECS is to control the living conditions during transit through
space or at a colonised location on Mars. For the purposes of judging, the conditions that will
be tested are a change in temperature, light intensity and then other additional features can
be demonstrated for additional marks.

Technology Component – Elements for the Regional Showcase event

At the Regional Showcase event, students representing their school will be required to
provide a working ECS device for testing by UniSA Connect Officers.

As a minimum, the device should be able to detect and show changes to temperature and
light levels.

To be awarded further points, the ECS will need to demonstrate a response to a change in
temperature and light intensity. Additional points will be awarded for detecting additional
conditions and responding to these and for additional features, such as remote options.

The judging area will be held in the main Regional Showcase event area and other schools
are encouraged to observe the progress of judging during the day.

Programming Component – Elements for the Regional Showcase event

Students will also be required to complete a trouble shooting activity to identify errors in a
sample PrIO Board that has been constructed incorrectly and find simple errors in a section
of Arduino coding.

The UniSA Connect Officer judging the ECS device will work through a checklist to
award marks for each successful criteria. For additional features to be awarded
marks, they must be successfully demonstrated in the allocated testing time.
 STEMIE Regional Showcase
Technology Component
School: ___________________________________________
Total
Criteria Marks Available
Marks
1 Mark – Build completed, but not
functioning
+1 Mark – Completed and operational
PrIO board construction
+1 Mark – Completed to a high
standard of construction and fully
operational
1 Mark – Detects changes to light and
Does the ECS detect
temperature
changes in the
+1 Mark – Detects an additional
environment?
change
1 Mark – Responds to a change in
light
Can the ECS respond to
+1 Mark – Responds to a change in
the environmental
temperature
change?
+1 Mark – Responds to an additional
change
1 Mark – Can display light and
Can the device display temperature readings
the information? +1 Mark – Displays an additional
reading
1 Mark – Can detect faults on the
Can the students trouble
sample PrIO Board
shoot a faulty ECS
+1 Mark – Can detect simple errors in
device?
a sample code
+1 Mark – Additional ECS feature is
Does the device contain successfully demonstrated
additional features, which
are successfully +1 Mark – Another additional feature
integrated and can be successfully demonstrated
demonstrated in the test
time? +1 Mark – Another additional feature
successfully demonstrated

Total Marks: /15

Notes:
 STEM Innovation Experience
Mars Mission
Engineering Component

Engineering Component – Background Information

The Mars Mission aims to travel to the red planet with humans and allow them to start
colonising the new land. On arrival, the people will need some method of transport on the
surface of the planet.

Engineering Component – The Requirements

As a group, design and construct a model of a vehicle that can cover the set terrain as
well as a transit pod to house the vehicle.

The vehicle must be able to fit within the transit pod. The best vehicle will be able to
complete the terrain track, but also have the lowest volume and lowest weight.

A prototype for a transport vehicle that can fit within the transit pod will need to be
developed. The vehicle will need to be able to navigate a test track and fit within the transit
pod for transit. This can be achieved by completing some, or all of the following:

• Brainstorm and investigate existing terrestrial vehicles used in space exploration,

while identifying their strengths and weaknesses.
• Sketch designs of vehicles and the transit pod for construction and testing.
• Test the properties of different types of construction materials (e.g. glue, masking
tape, lego, balsa wood etc.) to evaluate the best construction method.
• Construct a transit pod and vehicle. (Modification of pre-constructed vehicles not
permitted)
• Create a practical investigation methodology to test the suitability of the vehicle and
launch pod design constructed at school.
• Explain the functions of the preferred design.
• Produce sketches of the chosen design (by drawing and/or CAD packages).
• Produce a 3D printed component for the vehicle.
• Construct the chosen design for testing at the Regional Showcase event.

Engineering Component – Vehicle and Transit Pod Construction

The model of the transit pod must not exceed 30cm x 30cm x 30cm and must be able to
house the vehicle completely inside. The transit pod must house the vehicle but also allow it
to exit the capsule without vertical lifting (there will be no crane access on Mars). Any
materials can be used in construction except pre-constructed vehicles. The winning vehicle
will be able to navigate the test track and have the lowest weight and volume.
 Transit Pod Specifications
• Length, Width and Height: Maximum 30cm for each dimension, but the
smaller the better as the size and weight will be ranked against other
vehicles.
• Note, if the transit pod shape is irregular the widest, tallest and longest
measurements will be used to calculate the dimensions.
• Weight: As light as possible

Vehicle Specifications
• Must fit completely inside the transit pod
• Weight: As light as possible
• Must be able to exit the launch capsule without requiring manual vertical
lifting
• Must be able to navigate the terrain track autonomously once released

Requirements:
• Materials are not prescribed but it is an advantage to keep the vehicle and transit pod
as light weight as possible.
• The vehicle must be able to exit the transit pod without manual vertical lifting.
• The vehicle can be adjusted and set up on the track, but once released it must
function autonomously
• The vehicle needs to be able to navigate as far along the test track as possible.
• The volume and weight will be will be ranked against other schools that complete the
same distance on the terrain track.

Note – the supply of building materials is the responsibility of the school.

1m wide

Engineering Component – Elements for the Regional Showcase event

At the Regional Showcase event, students representing their school will be required to
present their vehicle and transit pod for testing. Testing will be conducted along a 1m wide
test track as listed in the diagram below

The judging will be held in the main Regional Showcase event area and other schools are
encouraged to observe the progress of judging during the day.

The vehicle and transit pod will be tested on the supplied track. Each school will
have two (2) attempts at the track and the best result will be recorded.
Distance travelled on the track will be compared with the total weight and volume
to calculate an additional score. This will be ranked against other schools.
 STEMIE Regional Showcase
Engineering Component
School: ___________________________________________
Transit pod dimensions Combined weight of transit Total distance travelled on
pod and vehicle the terrain test track
Width Height Length Run 1 Run 2

Total
Criteria Marks Available
Marks
1 Mark – Transit pod does not exceed
30cm3
Vehicle and Transit pod
+1 Mark – Vehicle fits within the transit
pod (maximum 30cm3)
1 Mark – Vehicle can be manually
Release of vehicle from released without vertical lifting
transit pod +1 Mark – Vehicle can be released
autonomously
1 Mark – Vehicle moves to first hurdle
+1 Mark – Vehicle moves and can
Terrain test track navigate over the first hurdle
+1 Mark - Vehicle can also navigate
over the second hurdle
+1 Mark – Vehicle looks complete
+1 Mark – Vehicle can become larger
Additional vehicle
than the transit pod
features
+1 Mark - Vehicle has a 3D printed
component
Up to 5 Marks – Furthest distance
travelled (5 Marks), if two vehicles
Ranking Score (Maximum
reach the same distance marker they
5)
will be ranked according to their weight
and volume (lowest first)

Total Marks: /15

Notes:
 STEM Innovation Experience
Mars Mission

Mathematics Component

Mathematics Component – Background Information

Space food has improved dramatically since the early missions where food was limited to
tubes of semi liquid meals or freeze-dried powders that were difficult to rehydrate. Now
astronauts can select from a variety of meals that incorporate fruit, vegetables, meat and
even special requests provided they meet the nutrition plan.

Food in space needs to be as light weight as possible to reduce transit costs. Dehydrated
foods are often used for this reason and with access to hot water can be rehydrated and
heated in a similar time frame to making a snack at home.

Mathematics Component – The Requirements

As a group, create a tender for the catering contract on the Mars Mission.

The tender will need to meet set parameters, and decisions about the meal plans
requirements to be mathematically justified.

This can be achieved by completing some, or all of the following:

• Brainstorm the requirements to consider for the meal plan

• Demonstrate a variety of foods in the meal plan, including catering for an astronaut
with a dietary requirement such as, gluten free, vegetarian or low FODMAP diet
• Calculate costing of meals
• Develop a contingency plan for an additional 20% travel time in the event of a delay
and justify this cost mathematically
• Calculate the total weight of the food required and show mathematically how much
this weight can be reduced by dehydrating the foods
• Produce a tender for the Catering Contract for the Mars Mission
Mathematics Component – Mars Mission Catering Tender

The Catering Tender needs to:

• Account for the dietary requirements for six (6) astronauts for the duration of the
journey. This can be:
o based on standard recommended dietary intake (RDI) values
o based on basal energy expenditure calculations
o linked to the selection criteria for astronaut selection in the Science
Component
o linked to requirements of specific astronauts that have lived in space on other
missions
o linked to requirements of specific students that have been selected as the
astronaut representatives

• Show that the plan can accommodate for a dietary requirement (gluten free,
vegetarian, low FODMAP etc)
• Demonstrate a variety in the meal plan
• Demonstrate a contingency plan including costing for an additional 20% journey
duration
• Calculate the total weight of the food required for the journey and calculate the
amount of reduction in this weight if food is dehydrated. (This can be for the entire
food quota or a sample meal)

It is suggested that online tools such as GeoGebra and food label calculators such as the
one at http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/industry/npc/Pages/default.aspx could be utilised in
the process of developing a mathematically justified Catering Tender. This list is not
exhaustive, and groups should use resources available to them to work through this
component.

Mathematics Component – Elements for the Regional Showcase event

At the Regional Showcase event, students representing their school will be required to
present their Catering Tender to the UniSA Connect Officer for judging. Schools will be
assessed by means of Question and Answer. From a list of ten (10) seen questions, schools
will need to respond to three (3) questions chosen by the judge, before being asked to
respond to two (2) unseen questions. The unseen questions will be created based on
individual submissions at checkpoints throughout STEMIE.

The judging area will be held in the main Regional Showcase event area and other schools
are encouraged to view Tender submissions on display when a school is not being judged.

The Checkpoints throughout Term 3, 2018 will assess the mathematical

justification of the Catering Tender. Responses to a Question and Answer session,
incorporating seen and unseen questions, will be judged at the Regional Showcase
event.
 STEMIE Regional Showcase
Mathematics Component
School: ___________________________________________
Marks Total
Questions
Available Marks
1. What criteria have you used to determine what the astronaut’s dietary
requirements will be?
3 2 1 0 N/A

2. Describe how you have created variety in the meal plan? 3 2 1 0 N/A

3. What is the costing for the food supplies for the trip? 3 2 1 0 N/A

4. Explain how you worked out the 20% contingency plan. 3 2 1 0 N/A

5. Do you have any provisions for dietary requirements in the meal plan? If
so, explain these.
3 2 1 0 N/A

6. Demonstrate how the dietary requirements are being met in your plan. 3 2 1 0 N/A

7. Discuss if powdered food/shakes were an option in your plan. 3 2 1 0 N/A

8. Discuss the proportion of water in the foods? 3 2 1 0 N/A

9. Were food allergies a consideration in your plan? 3 2 1 0 N/A

10. How has the incorporation of variety and/or dietary requirement in your
3 2 1 0 N/A
meal plan altered the cost?

Unseen Question 1. 3 2 1 0 N/A

Unseen Question 2. 3 2 1 0 N/A

Unseen Question 3. 3 2 1 0 N/A

Total Marks: /15

Notes:
 STEM Innovation Experience
Mars Mission

Overall Summary Component

Overall Summary Component – Background Information

This is a combined component focusing on STEMIE in each school site. If a school chooses
to use multiple classes within STEMIE 2018, only one representative submission for each
Overall Summary Assessable Task will be marked.

The purpose of this component is to ensure that progress is being made through out The
Learning Phase. It also allows the UniSA Connect team to gather information relating to the
implementation of STEMIE at each school site, and to gather evidence of promotion of
STEM within the school and the local and broader communities.

Overall Summary Component – The Requirements

The Overall Summary Component is assessed during Checkpoints throughout Term 3,

2018. There is no Regional Showcase event requirement for the Overall Summary
Component.

This can be achieved by completing some, or all of the following:

• Create a work timeline for each of the components, with achievable and accountable
milestones.
• Critically reflect on the submitted timeline and regularly update progress as required.
• Summary of how STEMIE was implemented within the school site.
• Promote STEM in schools, and more specifically, the STEMIE program within the
school, local and broader communities. (See Media Guidelines in STEMIE Essential
Information for specific terminology and background)
• Summarise aspects of STEMIE in the form of the STEMIE Summary Report,
addressing the following (maximum 8 pages, including photographs):
o Summary of each of the components
o Reflect on the difficulty of each component and which parts were more
difficult than others
o Identify problems that were encountered and how these were overcome
o Summary of the final Mars Mission Proposal created in school
 STEM Innovation Experience
2018 Task Information

Assessment

Assessment – Introduction

Assessment within STEMIE 2018 will be through the UniSA STEMIE Moodle site. Schools
must submit a minimum quantity of work to a satisfactory standard to qualify for the Regional
Showcase event. There are 20 Assessable Tasks, some of which are required and some of
which are optional.

Details of each of the assessable tasks are found at the end of this section.

Assessment – The Process

At school, groups of students will need to work through STEMIE to produce evidence of
Assessable Tasks (at a satisfactory standard) for submission at Checkpoints during Term 3,
2018.

The submission requirements for each of three Checkpoints is as follows:

• Checkpoint 1 (due Friday 17 August 2018) – 3 progress tasks

o Required Task (R1) Submission of Timeline showing proposed dates and
progress
o Minimum of 2 additional tasks.
• Checkpoint 2 (due Friday 14 September 2018) – 8 progress tasks
o Required Tasks (R2-5) Submission of required tasks in each of the Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics components
o Minimum of 4 additional tasks.
• Checkpoint 3 (due Friday 28 September 2018) – 5 progress tasks
o Required Task (R6) Submission of STEMIE summary report
o Minimum of 4 additional tasks

The deadline for all checkpoints is 8:00pm on the date listed above (and on the Timeline).
Submissions must be labelled with school name and task number, and be uploaded via
the UniSA Connect STEMIE Moodle Site by this time.

School submissions will be assessed, and work submitted to a satisfactory level will be
awarded 1 mark. For a school to qualify to compete at their Regional Showcase event, a
minimum of 16 marks out of the possible 20 marks (including all required tasks) must be
submitted and awarded by Checkpoint 3.
Assessment – Marks Do Not Carry Over

Marks earnt in the process of qualifying for the Regional Showcase event do not carry over
into the event. That is, each school starts on an even level at the commencement of the
Regional Showcase event, with the exception for Bonus Marks (outlined below).

The winner of the Regional Showcase event will be the school who, at the end of the event,
has gained the most number of marks at the Regional Showcase event, including Bonus
Marks.

Assessment – Bonus Marks

To encourage students to submit work of a high standard, and to complete work beyond the
required minimum, there will be 30 Bonus Marks awarded for each region after all
submissions have been received.

In each region, one Bonus Mark will be awarded for the best submission for each of the 30
tasks highlighted in green on the Assessment Matrix.

Should there be only one submission for a particular Assessable Task, as long as the
submission is to a satisfactory standard, that school will receive 1 Bonus Mark for that task.

Assessment Task Submission Updates will be provided after Checkpoint 1 and Checkpoint 2
to identify how many submissions have been received for each task in each region. Please
check the UniSA Connect STEMIE Moodle site for these updates shortly after the
Checkpoint submission deadlines.

Assessment – The State Final

Six (6) schools will progress to the STEMIE State Final in 2018.

The school who wins their Regional Showcase event will progress to the State Final, to be
held at the Samsung SMARTSchool University of South Australia, Magill campus on Friday
9 November 2018.

In addition to the winners of the Regional Showcase events, there will be two Wildcard
entries into the STEMIE State Final. These positions will be awarded to schools by UniSA
Connect at the conclusion of the final Regional Showcase event.

Marks awarded at the Regional Showcase (including Bonus Marks) do not carry over into
the State Final. Each of the six (6) schools competing at the State Final will start on an even
level with no advantage awarded to any school.

The school who gains the most marks at the State Final event be the State Final winners.
STEM Innovation Experience
Assessment Matrix
 STEM Innovation Experience
2018 Task Information

Rules, Requirements and Final Thoughts

STEMIE – Rules and Requirements

• To qualify for the Regional Showcase event, Required Tasks R1-R6 must be
submitted on time, and to a satisfactory standard.
• In addition to the six (6) Required Tasks, an additional ten (10) Assessable Tasks
must be submitted on time, and to a satisfactory standard to qualify for the Regional
Showcase event.
• It is the responsibility of each school to ensure that the requirements for assessment
and display at the Regional Showcase event are transported to, and on show at the
event.
• Each school will be allocated 1 table to display their Catering Tender at the Regional
Showcase event. Each of the other Regional Showcase elements to be judged will
require students to assemble in the designated spot in the judging area during their
allocated time.
• The transport of students and equipment for the Regional Showcase event is the
responsibility of the school.
• Please ensure if using a website or other web-based resources at the Regional
Showcase event that they are available offline, or available via mobile internet
connection. It is the responsibility of each school to ensure their assessment items
are available for viewing away from their school site.
• The deadline for all Checkpoint items is 8:00pm on the date listed in the timeline. All
submissions must be received electronically via the UniSA Connect STEMIE Moodle
site by this time, and must be clearly named to identify the school name and task
number.
• It is the responsibility of the school to keep electronic copies of all work submitted.

STEMIE – Final Thoughts

• While there is a competitive aspect to STEMIE 2018, were possible, it is actively

encouraged for schools to collaborate to share ideas, methodologies and resources.
• Accessing assistance from the wider community is also encouraged, should the
required expertise to complete tasks not be available on the school site.
• The first point of contact for any questions or queries relating to STEMIE 2018 and
the Mars Mission is the UniSA Connect STEMIE Moodle site
(https://e.unisa.edu.au/course/view.php?id=53). This site contains electronic copies
of resources provided to schools, additional web links to assist, discussion forums for
teachers and students to collaborate or ask questions, and contains further details
about each of the Assessable Tasks.
 STEM Innovation Experience
2018 Task Information

Regional Showcase

STEMIE – The Regional Showcase

Students present a selection of their work at their local Regional Showcase event in Term 4,
2018.

Once qualified, a team of six (6) students will represent each school on the day.

Each school will be judged on the following:

• Science Component – Presentation of the health and exercise plan and astronaut
selection criteria to a Mars Mission Board Representative (UniSA Connect Officer).
• Technology Component – Judging of the Environmental Control System against the
set criteria.
• Engineering Component – Judging of the transit pod and vehicle against the set
criteria.
• Mathematics Component – “Question and Answer” session relating to the meal plan
and Mars Mission catering tender.

The dates for each of the Regional Showcase events are as follows:

Metro Cluster 1 Metro Cluster 2 Whyalla Region Mount Gambier

Region
Thursday Friday Friday Tuesday
25 October 2018 26 October 2018 19 October 2018 23 October 2018

Schools will need to bring the following on the day:

• Presentation materials for astronaut selection criteria and exercise plan

• Prototype of Environmental Control System (ECS)
• Transit pod and vehicle for testing on the terrain track
• Mars Mission Catering Tender Summary, and prepared answers to seen questions
• Six (6) student representatives to present to judges, and their teacher to supervise.

Each school will be allocated 4 x 15 minute timeslots for official judging time, during which
they will complete all assessment for the Regional Showcase event.

Students and their teacher will be required to be at the venue for the entire session, and will
have the opportunity to view catering tenders, transit pod and vehicle testing and ECS
device prototypes of other schools in their region while they are not being judged.
 STEM Innovation Experience
2018 Task Information

The State Final

STEMIE – The State Final

The winners from each of the four Regional Showcase events (Metro Cluster 1, Metro
Cluster 2, Whyalla Region, Mount Gambier Region), and two Wildcard entries will compete
at the STEMIE State Final at the Samsung SMARTSchool, University of South Australia,
Magill campus.

The event will be held on Friday 9 November 2018.

A maximum of six (6) students per participating school, accompanied by their teacher, will
compete in unseen STEM challenges on the day.

Note – Transport of students to and from the State Final is the responsibility of the school.

Further details about the event will be provided to the Regional Showcase event winners and
Wildcard entries closer to the date.