The Robogals Science Challenge for 2012 has officially been launched on the 15th of May, 2012 at the Walter Boas Building in the University of Melbourne.

The event was attended by several sponsors that support Robogals for the various works and projects launched every year. They were treated to an introduction and update on the progress of Robogals by its founder and Young Australian of the Year, Marita Cheng. The year is going to be packed with workshops and events that will surely raise the number of girls in the field of engineering in the years to come.

Marita met with Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak, who was in Melbourne for a talk. In a short interview, Marita asked Steve Wozniak “why should girls join the Robogals Science Challenge?” Steve Wozniak’s reply was mixed in with humour but he made his point that the Robogals Science Challenge is “…a great, great project for the girls”.

Alexandra Karamesinis, a winner of the previous Robogals Science Challenge said “Robogals and Marita have introduced me to engineering; they have given me the opportunity to create my own invention and to learn more about science and engineering”.

The Science Challenge has a fresh new theme for the year 2012. The theme will encourage girls to come up with science projects that can solve-real world problems around their home or community. Furthermore, this theme ties in perfectly with what an actual engineer does for a living.

This year, the theme of engineering resonates even louder with the addition of categories/disciplines that will categorise the girl’s experiments such as mechanical, civil and electrical engineering to name a few.

Registration is well under way and many have already expressed their interest to join in. Video submissions will be accepted from 30th of June onwards and entries will close on the 26th of October in order for the judges to decide on the winners.

The Robogals Science Challenge Manager, Janet Choi, has these final words to share. “The 2011 Robogals Science Challenge was amazing, but this year we are going to step it up a notch and make it something to be remembered for years to come.”

The 2012 Robogals Science Challenge promises to be an exciting one and with the enthusiasm and wonderful ideas already brewing in these young minds, that promise looks to be a very satisfying one indeed.