The Bright Sparks programme

Bright Sparks are young people aged 11 and over who are keen on high-tech subjects such as electrotechnology.

The Electrotechnology Industry Training Organisation (Etito) runs the programme to help interested youngsters with projects in electrotechnology, computer control, computer hardware/software and robotics.

Bright Sparks primarily communicate via the internet, with Etito holding a nightly bulletin board.

The bulletin board has 240 subscribers and spin-offs such a visual basics club, where those interested discuss this programming language using a chat room.

Ross Peterson, Etito's national education manager, began developing the scheme four years ago.

When working as a Royal Society Fellow he saw the need to connect interested young people and industry needs.

He says Bright Sparks' aim is to "provide a knowledge base", from which talented young people can set career goals in NZ tech-industry

To achieve this, Bright Sparks has a strong industry base and at present has about 250 mentors.

The mentor scheme gives young people the opportunity to "visit industry and meet entrepreneurs who started out as young people with the same interest as Bright Sparks".

The mentors also answer bulletin board questions when Bright Sparks get stuck.

Each year, members submit projects to two major Bright Sparks competitions.

The Electrical Excellence Competition, held in July this year, has two prizes - one for a written project the other for a practical project.

This year Janelle Keeble, from Hamilton Girls High School, won the award for her written project, The Day the Power Failed. Duncan Bennett, from Wesley College, won the practical prize for his entry Propeller Pitch Control. Prizes included a Playstation 2.

The second major award, the Bright Sparks Hi-Tech Competition, is now being judged, with winners announced at the Electronics and Software NZ Industry awards next month.

Bright Sparks

E-mail: connect@etito.co.nz

Tel (09) 525 2590

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