Students from across the Central West will head to Charles Sturt University to compete in the NSW West Region finals on Sunday, August 27. 

In 2016, Red Bend’s TOM Maths and Engineering Team took out first place in Bathurst and later went on to place second in the state in the Tournament of Minds.

This year’s Science and Technology team of five students, ranging from years seven to 10, will face a challenge of preparing three ideas to explain the apparent movements of the objects in the sky.

Students are not constrained to facts and technologies known now nor at the time of Galileo but will need to provide a supporting theory for each idea. 

As part of their solution, students must consider Galileo’s observations of the movement of the dots near Jupiter and the evidence that might be required to challenge established theories. 

Year 11 student Monica Hoswell is now unable to take part in TOM, but has taken on a role as a mentor for the team. 

“There is a lot of organisation involved. I felt that after developing my skills and taking so much from TOM, it would be great to give back.”

With new team member Naomi Turner, students made the switch from Maths and Engineering to Science and Technology in 2017.

“Science and Technology is one of the most difficult challenges. A lot of our group this year really excel in science,” Yr 10 student Jacob Norman said. “We are playing to our strengths.”

TOMs is a national problem solving program is aimed at enhancing student thinking. Problem solving is identified as a key skill in the health and the development of children and adolescents. 

As stated in A Report and Mile Guide for 21st Century Skills: “To cope with the demands of the 21st century, people need to know more than core subjects. They need to use their knowledge and skills by thinking critically, applying knowledge to new situations, analysing information, comprehending new ideas, communicating, collaborating, solving problems and making decisions”.