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Darwin Program

IT ALL BEGINS IN DARWIN

WATERFRONT / HIDDEN VALLEY / CONVENTION CENTRE / PARLIAMENT HOUSE

SATURDAY 7 OCTOBER, TO SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER

See the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge come to life as teams go through scrutineering and testing before starting their journey! All activities are free!

 

 

PROHELION STATIC SCRUTINEERING 

MONDAY 16 TO FRIDAY 20 OCTOBER, DARWIN CONVENTION CENTRE 8.00AM-6.00PM

Before teams make it to the Start Line, they must prove to our Scientific Faculty and the Northern Territory Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics that their car has been built correctly and meets 2023 event regulations.   

Watch from a dedicated viewing platform as solar cars are weighed, measured and checked for overall road readiness.  This can be a nerve-wracking test for many teams, and they must pass to progress to Dynamic Scrutineering. 

Please note, daily times are subject to change and a schedule will be available at worldsolarchallenge.org.au on Sunday 15 October. 

VIEW SCHEDULE

ACCELERATING THE FUTURE SYMPOSIUM – OCTOBER BUSINESS MONTH EVENT  

TUESDAY 17 OCTOBER, MOTORSPORT HOUSE - HIDDEN VALLEY MOTORSPORT COMPLEX 8.30AM-3.00PM

In conjunction with the Northern Territory’s premier annual business event October Business Month and Innovation Territory, this Symposium brings together experts from across the Territory and around the world to explore how renewable, energy transport, and circular economy can accelerate the Territory towards a sustainable $40 Billion economy by 2030.

Members of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Alumni and Scientific Faculty will join industry, government and academia, discussing the future of solar technology, transport and the circular economy in the Territory. The topics explored during the full day event will be:

  1. The future of renewable energy technology in the Territory (including research and development, testing, options such agrivoltaics, etc)
  2. The future of transport in the Territory (including drones, electric, hydrogen, and solar vehicles)
  3. The future of the circular economy in the Territory (tyres and solar panels in particular)

To find out more visit this link 

For more event information and to register your expression of interest to attend click here or email innovation@nt.gov.au

DYNAMIC SCRUTINEERING  

SATURDAY 21 OCTOBER, HIDDEN VALLEY MOTOR SPORT COMPLEX 8.00AM – APPROX 1.00PM

Want to see the solar cars in action?  Dynamic Scrutineering puts the teams through a series of exercises testing speed, stability and braking capability. The highly contested, ‘Hot Laps’ give teams the opportunity to post their fastest time and the chance to take pole position and lead the event out of Darwin.  

No solar car will be given permission to line up at the start until teams have passed this phase and with only one sleep until departure, it is an important and exciting event to witness.   

Darwin’s Hot100FM team will be onsite with an outside broadcast and a café will be available for food and drink purchase. 

OFFICIAL DARWIN START LINE  

SUNDAY 22 OCTOBER, STATE SQUARE, PARLIAMENT HOUSE FROM 7.00 AM

Join us at State Square to cheer on the 2023 teams from around the world, as they begin their 3,000km solar-powered journey to Adelaide.   

Official proceedings commence at 8:00am but we suggest arriving earlier to grab a coffee and egg and bacon roll, then walk along the line up of these incredible solar electric cars for a final chance to see firsthand the future of hi-tech, sustainable mobility and wish the teams well. 

BRIDGESTONE ENLITEN HUB

Take a break and cool down, grab some water and relax in Bridgestone’s ENLITEN Hub. Learn more about Bridgestone’s ENLITEN tyres, specially designed for the 2023 BWSC.  

In the lead up to the start of the event, enjoy some local activities such as local wildlife experiences, and use the space to meet and collaborate with others. The Bridgestone ENLITEN Hub opens Wednesday 11 October with the start of tyre collection and will be open right through until the end of dynamic scrutineering on 21 October.  

STEM ENGAGEMENT DAY

The STEM Engagement Day will provide up to 200 teenage school students from across the top end a fun-filled and STEM based day of activities at Hidden Valley featuring model solar car racing, drone competitions, VR, viewing of solar cars and discussion with challenge team participants.

The event will also provide students and Accelerating the Future Symposium participants an opportunity to engage with each other at lunchtime.

If you are interested in being involved as an interactive or educational display, please email inspirednt@cdu.edu.au.

The STEM Engagement Day initiative of the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade and delivered by Inspired NT and Engineers Australia.

WOMEN'S INNOVATION NETWORK NT - NETWORKING SESSION

Following the Accelerating the Future Symposium, the Woman’s Innovation Network NT will be hosting a networking function to celebrate some of the women involved in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and those achieving great things in STEM. The event will include a keynote address by Coco Wong who’s esteemed career began as a founder of the Adelaide University Solar Racing Team before she became the Lead Developer Energy Products at Tesla and now the Head of Ground Systems at Zipline USA.

Attendees will include the symposium attendees, Woman’s Innovation Network NT affiliate and invited guest.

For more event information and to register your expression of interest to attend click here. Please note Symposium guests do not to register separately.