Update 5/10/2016: Please read this post on the completion and outcomes of AEROFAIR 2016.
The School of Aerospace Engineering USM is once again organizing another series of our AEROFAIR outreach program this year. We have previously organized two AEROFAIR programs in 2014 and 2015. Our program is financially supported by the Penang Education Council of the Penang Institute and a USM research grant on outreach program. This program has been approved by Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Pulau Pinang (JPNPP).
The theme of this year’s program is “Promoting Aerospace Science and Activities in Secondary Schools“. The main event of this year’s program is the half-day Competition Day, which will be held on Saturday, 24 September 2016. Another earlier event is a Briefing Day, which will be conducted for two hours on Thursday, 23 June 2016. (Its original date on Wednesday, 22 June, had to be changed due to the public holiday, Nuzul Al-Quran, on the same day.)
A video from our last year’s AEROFAIR 2015 is shared below. The champion of the indoor flight competition last year was SMK Permatang Tok Jaya, Butterworth. Other winners are listed here.
OBJECTIVES:
Our main objective for AEROFAIR 2016 is different and more challenging from the objectives of the previous programs: “To guide and assist secondary schools in Pulau Pinang to develop sustainable activities related to aerospace engineering at their schools”. These aerospace engineering activities will involve constructing small-scale indoor-flying airplanes and water-rocket models.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
All secondary schools in Pulau Pinang can apply to participate in this program. The deadline to send the application form is on Wednesday, 4 May 2016. The application form can be downloaded here.
ACTIVITIES & COMPETITIONS:
Two main flying competitions will be organized for two activities in AEROFAIR 2016 (you can read more about these activities by clicking the links below):
In addition, two other competitions will be organized as well to promote aerospace activities at schools. These competitions are:
- Presentations by schools’ contingents (on the Competition Day)
- Videos made by students about aerospace activities at their schools
Awards will be given to the top three winners for each of these four competitions.
BRIEFING DAY:
An initial event, a Briefing Day, will be conducted for all participating schools three months before the main event. It will be on Thursday, 23 June 2016, from 3 pm to 5 pm, at the School of Aerospace Engineering, USM Engineering Campus, Nibong Tebal. Each school will be represented by 3 persons (including at least one teacher) to this event.
The main purpose of this Briefing Day is to supply each school with FREE materials and equipment necessary for them to conduct aerospace activities (on indoor flight and water rocket) at their schools. The cost of these materials and equipment (ranging about RM400 to RM600 per school) will be covered by the organizer. In addition, each school will be given explanations and guidelines on how to conduct these activities at their schools.
NOTE: We apologize to have to conduct this Briefing Day on the fasting month of Ramadhan. We try to make it as convenient as possible for all involved by making it a short 2-hour program. It is the only time frame available to both the USM organizers and the schools, for the following reasons:
- The organizers will need to order from overseas some of the equipment and materials to supply to participating schools on the Briefing Day; this process may take more than a month,
- Schools will have their Mid Term break from 28 May until 12 June, and an examination week prior to this break,
- Conducting the Briefing Day in July after Hari Raya Aidilfitri will not give plenty of time for participating school students to carry out the aerospace activities before the Competition Day.
COMPETITION DAY:
This main event of AEROFAIR 2016 will be conducted on Saturday, 24 September 2016, from 7.30 am to 1.30 pm, at Dewan Utama, Kampus Kejuruteraan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang. Please visit this page for details of the program agenda.
ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Throughout this program, we want to encourage the use of English in learning science, which is why our program content in this blog is written in English. The rational behind this is that English is the international language of science. In addition, most resources and reading materials about activities on aerospace engineering for school students are available in English.