HOW many uses are there for a fork? What if all the water in the world turned green? Such ponderous questions were among many that were light relief for students in between the academic challenges at the fourth Northern NSW da Vinci Decathlon at The Armidale School this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Over three days, the event challenged more than 520 gifted and talented students from schools across the North West and New England.
Developed by Knox Grammar School and now held in regional venues across Australia, students compete in teams of eight across 10 disciplines: Mathematics and Chess; English; Science; Code Breaking; Engineering Challenge; Philosophy; Creative Producer; Art and Poetry; Cartography; General Knowledge.
“Every year the questions and challenges are different and we try to make them relevant,” Dylan Sherman, a former Knox student who now runs the various decathlons, said.
This year’s theme ‘synergy’ is an appropriate one, according to TAS organiser Catherine Boydell.
“Synergy is the skill required to make a successful da Vinci Decathlon team. For us, synergy is eight students with differing expertise, interest and passion working together to create the best solution,” she said.
Ms Boydell said TAS was honoured to host the northern NSW championships for Knox for the fourth time.
“It is a wonderful extension and enrichment opportunity that strengthens students’ skills in logic, team building and multi-tasking,” she said.
On the first day it was the host school who were named Year 7 champions, while the top Year 8 team came from Bishop Druitt College, Coffs Harbour. The winners are competing for trophies and an invitation to attend the state finals hosted by Knox next year.