GIRTON Grammar School has taken home the Golden Domino trophy for a second year in a row at The Amazing Spaghetti Machine Contest in Melbourne.
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The annual competition tests knowledge and skills in mathematics, science, engineering and project management in the creation of a “spaghetti machine”, an Italian term used to describe a complex machine that performs a simple task.
The school’s winning photo booth, which was also presented with the people’s choice award for day two of the competition, was on display at Girton last week.
Year 10 student Callum Clifton, one of the machine’s creators, was standing by to explain how it worked.
“We started off with brainstorming and designing the small parts, then putting it together and linking all the parts,” he said.
“It had to be more than 12 energy transfers and meet certain size specifications. There were also chemicals we were not allowed to use.
“There’s always a little bit of pressure to do it better than the group before.”
Twelve year 10 students contributed to the project this year, following the success of last year’s group.
Callum said the group worked over five months, meeting every Tuesday during lunch and Thursday after school, to meet the stringent competition requirements.
The machine included 35 different energy transfers and a spring-loaded seat, allowing the user to step into the booth, sit down and automatically trigger the camera in an elaborate chain reaction.
In a statement released by the school, it commended participants for their inspiration, initiative and drive in competition.
The Amazing Spaghetti Machine Contest was launched last year as part of The University of Melbourne’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
The students who worked on Girton’s winning machine were Madeline Bosaid, Ellen Brennan, Kimberley Hon, Rajan Ilagan, Khayshie Tilak-Ramesh, Henry Evans, Jake Dell-O’Sullivan, Callum Clifton, Jemille McKenzie, Aliesha Boak, Stuart Crickmore and Roshan Jayasekera.
They will be recognised during a presentation at Girton this week.