Hoërskool Florida is the place to be this weekend when the UJ Technolab CO2 Dragster Challenge takes place.
The event is an initiative by the University of Johannesburg (UJ) to create interest in engineering.
Teams are required to build miniature drag cars from wood that must weigh 75 grams.
The cars are propelled by a carbon dioxide canister which is pierced to start the release of the gas.
The UJ’s Technolab manager Willie Viljoen said the lab is where they incubate future engineering students for the university.
“We do workshops for schools where we teach different technical topics and then build an application of the specific topic discussed using lego’s for example. We also arrange field trips and take the pupils to car assembly plants. This is to get the pupils interested in engineering and we are looking for talented pupils from schools in the area so we can groom them. By the time they start their first year in university, they are already a step ahead,” he said.
The competition is open to everyone and is divided into three categories:
high school, primary school and open category where father and son teams or more advanced university pupils can enter.
“We want pupils to fall in love with technology by participating in exciting events such as the drag race. Hopefully they will enroll for engineering at the university.
The Technolab also arranged Robotscience training sessions where pupils as young as 13-years are taught to build and programme robots.
There is the Weather Station Challenge and the Shell Eco Marathon.
The challenge will take place Saturday at the school’s indoor shooting range starting at 11am.
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