Bright young minds converge for da Vinci Decathlon

ST PATRICK’s College Ballarat welcomed some of Victoria’s brightest young thinkers this week as it hosted the da Vinci Decathlon, the only event of its kind in regional Victoria.

A total of 216 students from nine public and independent schools took part in the academic competition that challenges students across 10 disciplines including engineering, maths, code breaking, art and poetry.

Established in 2002 by Knox Grammar School in Sydney, the Da Vinci Decathlon celebrates the academic gifts of Australian youth by providing a stimulating and challenging competition run in the spirit of an Olympic Decathlon.

It emphasises higher-order thinking skills, problem-solving and creativity, inspired by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci.

St Patrick’s College head of academic extension, event coordinator Kathryn Fraser said the annual event continues to grow in both scale and reputation.

“It’s not just about academic excellence,” Ms Fraser said.

“It’s about curiosity, teamwork and the ability to think differently. Seeing 216 students from across Victoria come together in Ballarat for this experience is incredibly exciting.”

It was the second time that St Patrick’s has hosted the event.

“It’s really good fun and it’s inclusive with the other schools involved,” said St Patrick’s year 10 student George Muller, among those taking part.

“I probably enjoyed the engineering challenge the most because it made you think outside the box.”

St Patrick’s College principal Steven O’Connor said the school was proud to host an event of this calibre in regional Victoria.

“It highlights Ballarat as a centre for educational excellence and provides invaluable opportunities for students in regional areas,” he said.

Participating schools included Mount Clear College, Ballarat Grammar, Geelong Grammar School, Loreto College, Phoenix P-12 Community College, Damascus College, Bacchus Marsh Grammar, St Joseph’s College Geelong and St Patrick’s College.