Students learned about transforming food waste with Canberra-based GoTerra as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program.
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The food and organics waste management businesses trip to the Binda Public School brought together primary school students from Laggan and Bigga Public Schools.
It was organised by Regional Development Australia Southern Inland as part of the STEM Industry Schools Partnership Program, which is funded by the Department of Education.
GoTerra transforms food waste into stock feed and fertiliser using maggots and meal worms. Students were able to handle both creatures.
The hands-on workshop was an opportunity for the students to learn about farming possibilities, principal of Laggan Public School, Laura Holt said.
During the session, students collaborated on a Lego engineering challenge and worked on an engineering design process for the CASE STEM challenge.
"Brainstorming ideas for a renewable energy product that would help in everyday life," Mrs Holt said.
Lilly Marshall, said "I enjoyed the Lego challenges. I had to use Lego to build a windmill. Max and I worked together and we used lots of different shapes and colours to make the windmill. The tricky part was making the blades spin around. It was fun."
Meantime Max Treacy, said "Shared learning days are always fun because there is an opportunity to play with your friends at different schools. The Lego activities were fun, but I enjoyed GoTerra activities because you got the chance to look at cool insects like meal worms and a special breed of maggots.
"The maggots are fed waste food and plastics which they turn into food which is used for animals and livestock. The meal worms are dried and used to make food for humans and livestock," he said.
Students of Binda Public School shared their experience:
- Liam McCormack loved finding out about GoTerra and their use of technology to make it work!
- Reegan Skelly had fun working in partnerships with other kids and investigating and finding out about meal worms. Did you know that they have such a high content of protein?
- Rhys Haley liked feeling the mealworms as they wriggled around on our hands!
- Grace McCormack said, the hands on activities were cool!
- Alec Robertson had fun building and changing our lego models.
- Jayden King enjoyed building things.
The trip demonstrated STEM skills and knowledge, project officer Camilla Staff said.
As well as, "just what you can do when you 'think outside the box'.
"GoTerra is a unique and innovative business, providing a solution to our food waste issue and an alternative source of protein for animals and humans. It was particularly great to have a female STEM mentor, Elena, engage with the students."