Whether it be exploring traditional First Nations fishing methods, enjoying a visit from the animals of Taronga Zoo, or putting on your problem-solving cap for an Amazing Maths Race around the College grounds, the 2026 Newington STEM Fest has something for everyone. 

During three fun-filled days from Wednesday this week, Newington Senior students will venture beyond the boundaries of the everyday classroom curriculum to tackle a range of brain-bending challenges within the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.  

‘We are very excited about the fantastic lineup at this year’s festival and hope it encourages students to be curious, take creative risks, and see how STEM connects to the world around them,’ says Miss Smriti Mediratta, Head of Science and festival coordinator. 

Festival presenters include Kassidy Grant, Wests Tigers performance analyst, who will share some of the patterns, trends and key statistics she uses to identify and track player performance during NRL matches. ‘The Modernister’ Tim Ross, comedian, presenter, writer and passionate advocate for architecture and design, will demonstrate how great architecture and clever urban design shapes the way we live. Meanwhile, Dr Daniel Han, a Senior Lecturer in Applied Mathematics at UNSW Sydney will bring the world of maths alive and Nick Bruce (ON 2007), a physiotherapist who has worked with elite sporting organisations such as the Tongan Rugby Union team and Hockey NSW, returns to the College to share his expertise and how it is applied to innovative technologies across sports medicine such as joint replacement, plastic reconstruction, burns and infection prevention. 

Students from Years 7 to 12 will also visit the Taronga Zoomobile onsite for an Environmental Change and Management incursion, to enjoy close encounters with native Australian animals and explore how environmental changes and human activity influence the ecosystems in which they live. In addition, Deadly Science’s STEM in Schools Program will deliver an interactive session to highlight the role First Nations people play as Australia’s very first scientists, engineers and innovators. 

Then there are the workshops with STEM and science outreach providers Fizzics Education, and Kaleidoscope Science, organisations which offer interactive and curriculum-aligned workshops for school students; and World of Maths, which will run an immersive, hands-on maths workshop that places problem-solving in the hands of students. There is also the exciting Maths Escape Room and Amazing Maths Race programs hosted by Felstead Education, designed to immerse students in fast-paced puzzle experiences. 

Also eagerly anticipated is the Family Amazing Maths Race hosted by Felstead Education, which is set to take place on Thursday evening. Students and their families will need cool heads to solve maths challenges under time pressure, travelling to different locations across the Senior school campus as they battle against the clock to get across the finish line first. 

‘It’s a fun, high-energy event that requires teamwork and quick thinking,’ explains Miss Mediratta. 

‘All participants will need to be on their A game when it comes to problem-solving – and we also highly recommend wearing a pair of running shoes!’ 

Miss Mediratta says every Senior student will have the opportunity to test their mettle on each challenge – and to learn from each of the experts on the program. 

‘The end goal is to help every student find something in STEM that sparks their interest – whether that’s building, coding, designing, experimenting or solving problems with others. 

‘STEM Fest ties in strongly with Newington’s overall ethos of critical and creative thinking, inspiring students to investigate, question and explore. 

‘Huge thanks must also go to the Newington College Parents and Friends Association – our STEM Festival sponsors. Through their generous support, we have been able to expand our offerings to give our students the best possible experience.’ 

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