ASHS Students Making an Impact

Three Year 12 students at ASHS (and AJHS alumni) have combined their love of digital technologies and their concern for the future of our planet, to create an awesome Impact Project. Below, in their own words, they describe what they have been up to.

Every Wednesday, Albany Senior High School dedicates a whole day for students like us to spend time working on any project of our choosing, in what we call “Impact Projects''. 

For three of us from the Digital Technologies Impact hub, this opportunity led us to create a game that raises awareness about CO2 emissions in New Zealand through a fun, engaging experience. Two players can join opposing sides and compete against one another. One side aims to keep the level of carbon dioxide below a certain threshold by pulling carbon dioxide from the air and recycling it into good, clean energy to fuel the ships weapons, whilst the other attempts to keep it above that threshold by turning clean air to carbon dioxide. 

Originally, we'd planned to develop a realistic spaceship fighting game, but we shifted to creating awareness around the issues of carbon dioxide emissions in New Zealand. In 2020, carbon dioxide emissions in New Zealand rose 35.1% compared to 1990 levels. 

The three of us saw Impact Day as an opportunity to use our skills for a socially and environmentally positive cause. Through the Impact programme, students are given the time and freedom to pursue projects that match our interests. Impact Days give us a chance to delve deeply into issues plaguing the country and find ways to help, no matter how small. The Impact programme reflects ASHS's goal of nurturing students who can imagine and build a more just and sustainable future for New Zealand.