Last Thursday we were treated to an incredible display of student projects showcasing their learning in the Creative Technologies Faculty. All who attended were impressed and inspired with the skill, design process and creativity of the work.

One project has been in my sights throughout the year and it was fantastic to see the final outcome.

Mia Wright has designed a horticultural device. She has worked with a client, a local walnut farmer, to design this device to measure humidity and temperature levels in the tree canopy and soil moisture to identify when the trees are at greatest risk of blight and to inform spraying techniques. The farm is organic so they limit the use of copper spray as much as possible. This device allows them to determine when the spray is essential and how much to apply.

When in conversation with Mia, she talked about her opportunity to apply learning from other areas. Science was an obvious link but calculus and physics had been invaluable in the development of her code that runs the device. She also looked carefully at the work her peers had produced as her next step was to produce the device for commercial production requiring marketing skills. Mia would like to thank her mentor Bryn Lewis and teacher Trudy Keys for supporting her and providing the opportunity to solve a real-life issue.

Congratulations to all the Creative Technology teachers and girls. Your work continues to inspire!

Jennie Nairn