Macleans College students tackle an asteroid-sized challenge
Posted on August 25, 2026
An asteroid on a collision course with New Zealand in 2029 presented Macleans College students with a complex mathematical and engineering challenge.
Six teams took part in the New Zealand Engineering Science Competition, tackling the problem over eight hours as they developed their own approaches to a real-world scenario.
Organised by the University of Auckland's Department of Engineering Science and Biomedical Engineering, the competition is a challenging problem-solving event for teams of three or four Year 12 or 13 students with an interest in Mathematics and Science.
The Macleans College teams were given the following challenge: “If an asteroid was detected today on a collision course to hit New Zealand in 2029, what is the largest size that could be safely deflected using current technologies?”
The open-ended nature of the problem required students to research relevant scientific and engineering concepts before developing their own approach. Teams explored a range of methods. Some worked with complex mechanical equations, while others used programming and spreadsheets to develop their calculations.
Each team submitted a report outlining its approach and supporting it with research, data and mathematical modelling. The competition provided an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge to a complex real-world problem while developing their problem-solving and analytical skills.
Results will be announced later in the year following the judging process. Macleans College congratulates all six teams on their efforts and looks forward to seeing how they fare in the final results.
