Charles Sturt University (CSU) co-hosts the annual Science and Engineering Challenge in Bathurst and Orange next week for more than 300 Year 9 and 10 students from 11 schools across the region.The students will battle it out for a place at the State Super Challenge by building bridges, wiring cities, creating Mars rovers, constructing earthquake-proof towers, and building a bionic hand.CSU Professor of Engineering Euan Lindsay said the CSU Engineering program was inspired to sponsor the Challenge in Bathurst and Orange, as well as Wagga and Young, to ensure the experience was more accessible to regional students.“We take every opportunity to showcase the impact that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professionals have on everyone’s life, from the design of buildings, through to the system that stores and delivers clean water to a community,” Professor Lindsay said.“Over the next five years, employment is predicted to increase in technical services, professional, and scientific careers by 14 per cent. With STEM graduates in Australia making up only 18 per cent of the entire graduate cohort, the Science and Engineering Challenge inspires students to work in STEM careers. It does this by providing a STEM experience that is very different to their school classroom.”The Science and Engineering Challenge encourages students to explore scientific principles for themselves rather than being guided to a pre-determined answer. The Challenge further aims to encourage students in Year 10 to consider a future career in science and engineering by choosing to study the enabling sciences and mathematics in Years 11 and 12.The Science and Engineering Challenge is presented by The University of Newcastle in cooperation with Charles Sturt University and local Rotary and Lions Clubs.The Science and Engineering Challenge at CSU in Bathurst will be hosted at the CD Blake Auditorium (building 1220, the Gym) on Wednesday 21 March. The Challenge in Orange will be hosted by James Sheahan High School on Friday 23 March.