The Catherine McAuley 'Cup Crunches' Team has been selected to take part in the STEM MAD Nationals event to be held in Adelaide later this year.
Catherine McAuley had two teams take part in the recent STEM MAD 2025 Parramatta Diocesan event with one team selected to take part in the STEM MAD Nationals event.
Catherine McAuley students have been awarded a Highly Commended at the recent Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese STEM MAD 2025 event held at CathWest Innovation College earlier this month.
STEM MAD is a program of state and national student competitions that encourage students to apply Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learnings to make a difference (MAD) in the world by acting for justice and the common good.
Catherine McAuley had two teams enter with Team ‘SunSync’ winning a Highly Commended - Make a Difference Award and Team ‘Cup Crunches’ winning a Highly Commended - Innovation Award. The Cup Crunches Team have also been selected for the STEM MAD Nationals event to be held in Adelaide later this year.
The innovative product developed by the Cup Crunches Team are edible plastic cups made from agar agar and sodium benzoate. In addition, not only are the cups 100% edible and fully biodegradable, they also contain essential vitamins and nutrients so as to help tackle malnutrition and dehydration for people around the world.
“Every minute 1 million cups are brought,” the students said in their submission video. Most of these end up in oceans or landfills that can take up to 400 - 1000 years to decompose naturally.” The students developed the cup after many experiment prototypes before coming up with their final product.
The SunSync Team developed an app, connected to a wearable pin, to help remind people when they should reapply sunscreen. The wearable pin vibrates when it is time to reapply after taking into consideration the UV index for that day.
Mr M. Lennon accompanied the students to the STEM MAD event on Tuesday 12th August and said the students had a great day not only presenting their own projects but also viewing the presentations from other schools. The students also enjoyed attending workshops where they were engaged in problem solving and VR experiences.
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Jacqui Hamilton | School Development Officer
Catherine McAuley Westmead
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The Student Leaders of Catherine McAuley have been recognised in NSW Parliament by local member Donna Davis MP, State Member for Parramatta. Ms Davis presented a Community Recognition Statement in Parliament where she recognised and congratulated the students in their leadership roles. The names of the student leaders were read out and will now forever be in Hansard, the official written record of proceedings and debates. The student leaders joined Donna Davis MP for a special Community Recognition Lunch last Thursday, 21st August held at the school. Donna Davis MP