A group of Year 10 Commerce students recently attended Mission Sustainable: The Ministry for Primary Industries Innovation Challenge - sponsored by the Young Enterprise Scheme.

All involved could not speak more highly of the success of the event which is a fast paced one-day challenge for Year 10 students. Students are given a real-world problem from local industry, they brainstorm a solution in teams, work to quickly create a basic prototype for their idea, and then pitch it to the judges.

A big thanks to local scientists and aquaculture experts who mentored the students for the day, Stephanie Hopkins from Aquaculture New Zealand, Bailey Lovett and Jess Ericson from Cawthron Institute, and Carol Jakob, Sarah Cumming and Finn Sumner from MPI.

Congratulations to the mixed team who won! Brooke Robinson & Isla Hill from Waimea College and Violet Swanney & Thora Moffatt from Nayland College.

The highlights of the student feedback included how much they enjoyed meeting new people, working in teams and with the mentors, problem solving, and learning about the Aquaculture industry.

The teachers raved about the format, saying “This exercise built on students' knowledge of science, technology, commerce and social studies from the classroom, and then added industry knowledge and expertise, which is a priceless experience for students”.

Student teams needed to develop an innovative idea using technology enablers to help the Aquaculture industry adapt to climate change.

Well done to the six students who attended: Isla Hill, Brooke Robinson, Jett Niccol, Liam O’Rourke, George Malcolm and Lachy Taggart.

Thanks to our YES National sponsors, MPI, and to our Regional sponsors, OneFortyOne, NMIT Te Pukenga and NRDA.