2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge

RiAus was proud to be a part of the 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge. RiAus congratulates  Tokai University (Japan) in 1st place, Nuon Solar Team (Netherlands) in 2nd place and University of Michigan (USA) in 3rd place. You can re-experience all the excitement by accessing information from  Mission Control @ Science Exchange.

RiAus also travelled with the Aurora Solar Car team to regional centres for the Outreach Program, and held Science Outside the Square events in Darwin and at Victoria Square in Adelaide.

The 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge combined innovative research and the latest in alternate transport technologies in a gruelling and prestigious challenge across the continent. The world’s best designed and built original cars that crossed Australia using the silent power of the sun.

Thirty-seven teams departed Darwin on Sunday 16 October, aiming to be the first to arrive in Adelaide  by 23 October, some 3000km away.

RiAus PDplus – Education outreach

RiAus has created a Professional Development module that uses the Veolia World Solar Challenge as the core theme to bring to life a range of science concepts for teachers and students in Years 6, 7 and 8.
The module was officially launched on August 10 via the Centra network, featuring a live briefing with Chris Selwood, Veolia World Solar Challenge Director. Chris introduced teachers to the history of the challenge, the route it takes and the basics of design of solar driven vehicles.
Watch the video session with Veolia World Solar Challenge Director, Chris Selwood and solar car driver Andris Samsons.
Download the RiAus PDplus Veolia World Solar Car Challenge notes.

See interviews with drivers

View images from the launch of 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge

Blog posts

The RiAus blogging team and friends covered the 2011 Veolia World Solar Challenge from start to finish.

Read blog posts relevant to Mission Control @ the Science Exchange

The 2011 World Solar Challenge has been run and won (20 October 2011) by Ben Lewis

Day five at Mission Control (20 October 2011) by Freya Dougan-Whaite 

Day four at Mission Control (19 October 2011) by Freya Dougan-Whaite

Day three at Mission Control (18 October 2011) by Freya Dougan-Whaite

First day at Mission Control (16 October 2011) by Petra Dzurovcinova

Read blog posts relevant to the RiAus Outreach Program with the Aurora Solar Car Team, and Science Outside the Square events at Darwin and Victoria Square.

Getting ready for the World Solar Challenge (19 October 2011) by Paul Willis

How do you get into a solar car? (15 October 2011) by Lisa Bailey

World Solar Challenge – Darwin (14 October 2011) by Kiran Shettigara

Flat! World Solar Challenge Outreach Program (14 October 2011) by Lisa Bailey

Half way – World Solar Challenge Outreach Program (14 October 2011) by Lisa Bailey

Looking to the skies (12 October 2011) by Paul Willis

First day of World Solar Challenge Outreach Program (10 October 2011) by Lisa Bailey

Read a blog post by a member of Australia’s Aurora Solar Team

A day in the life of a World Solar Challenge driver (22 September 2011) by Andris Samsons

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