Hamilton Secondary College space education centre in Adelaide takes its students to Mars with a STEM experience

Hamilton Secondary College's space centre's Mars experience is based on one at the Victorian Space and Science Education Centre.

Mike Roach Space Education Centre was opened at Hamilton Secondary College in Adelaide’s southwestern suburbs in 2017, coinciding with the city’s convention centre hosting the International Astronautical Congress and former astronauts Andy Thomas and Pam Melroy attending.

The school’s specialist space education centre has four main areas, including a simulated Martian crater and landscape with seven geological zones. It was built with rock collected from all over Australia. Students play out space scenarios with teams taking turns to operate as astronauts dressed in full space suits collecting samples on the Mars surface. Students will play scientists monitoring data and problem solving at the school’s mission control room.

The briefing room is an audio-visual experience where students can watch an introductory video about issues that involved in moving humans to Mars. A space laboratory is the fourth area of the school’s immersive hands-on learning experience that combines the four elements of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) learning into the theme of space education.

The centre is used by all of the school’s 1000 students as well as many visiting primary schools. The school’s space program has been supported industry partners.

Hamilton Secondary College was established in 1958 as Mitchell Park Boys Technical High School. The school became co-educational from 1972 and was then known as Mitchell Park High School. In 1991, Hamilton Secondary College was born from amalgamating with Glengowrie High School. The name “Hamilton” recognises that Glengowrie High School was on land once owned by the famous Hamilton family whose wines were produced from vines planted in the area.