Making a difference: Narrogin students upcycle their way to 2023 STEM MAD National Showcase award

Four students from St Matthews have done Narrogin proud after winning the 2023 STEM MAD National Showcase Award for Conservation for their work exploring sustainability. The STEM MAD competition challenges student teams from Catholic schools across Australia to tackle real-world problems and issues through STEM and innovation to make a positive difference. Students Mercy Matthews, Mackenzie Gordon, Mia Mercuri and Oscar Hardie used creativity and STEM to show how upcycling can transform waste materials into things of value rather than being sent to landfill. “I upcycled old boots and turned them into pot plants,” Oscar said. “We planted them, we put seeds in and they grew.” When Mia’s mission to make a multicoloured crayon out of crayon stubs hit a snag, she shrugged off the setback and found another project. “We were supposed to make crayons but I ran out of crayons at home so I upcycled and made my own cord holder so they don’t get tangled up,” she said. Using a sewing machine, Mercy turned plastic bags into a stunning dress and discarded materials into a range of small tote bags while Mackenzie found a clever use for an empty container. “I made a piggy bank out of an old bottle,” she said. “And it glows in the dark.” The students watched Craig Reucassel’s War on Waste and read Lucy Bell’s You Can Change the World as they worked. St Matthew’s assistant principal Mark Tenney and teacher Jane Dyke made a short video showcasing the children’s work, which they submitted to competition judges in Melbourne. News of their win came as a surprise soon after. “Our teacher, when she announced the winners and the finalists out of the whole of Australia we started crying because we were so happy,” Mercy said. “All the boys in the class ran over to my desk and they huddled around me,” Oscar said. A beaming Ms Dyke shared her students’ glee. “We were so excited,” she said. “We went crazy cheering, I think they’re awesome and I’m very proud, we love doing STEM.” The sustainability superstars said the upcycling project had taught them a lot. “We learnt not to chuck all your rubbish in the bin if it’s recyclable because it can hurt animals,” Mercy said. “There’s too much landfill and waste in the world and it’s hurting the environment,” Mia said. Oscar summed it up simply: “Think before you throw things out.”