07 December 2023
A trio of Margaret River Senior High School (MRSHS) students recently represented Australia at the 2023 New Taipei City MAGIC forum on sustainability, hosted in Taiwan.
MRSHS was the only Australian school invited to the event, which brought together students from countries from around the globe, including the USA, Japan, the UK, Germany, Finland, and France.
Their common focus was to discuss innovative strategies for reducing carbon emissions.
Will, Lara and Lily from Maragret River Senior High School at the 2023 New Taipei City MAGIC forum.
Will Dallimore (Year 11), Lara Sharpe and Lily Field (both Year 10), were invited on the back of their project, the 'Vineyard Vacuum', which addressed sustainability in the wine industry by capturing and storing carbon dioxide that is generated during fermentation.
The trio had the opportunity to present their project at the forum, alongside the projects from the other student teams.
Being from the South West, the need for innovation, such as the Vineyard Vacuum, is clear.
“The Margaret River region is famous for its wine, and we know that many local wineries are very interested in environmentally conscious practice. So, it made sense for the wine industry to be our focus area,” Will said.
The MRSHS delegation also had the opportunity to visit sister schools in New Taipei City, which range in size from 30 students to more than 5,000. They also experienced local life with host families, which proved to be an enlightening experience.
“The highlight was the immersive stay with my host family,” Will said. “It was an eye-opening exploration of both the nuances and shared values between our cultures. I am so thankful to have been given this incredible opportunity.”