2023 Metro Minds STEAM Challenge champions

The Metro Minds STEAM Challenge invites students in Year 7 to 10 near Sydney Metro’s City & Southwest, West and Western Sydney Airport railway alignments to work together to come up with an innovative solution to an authentic Sydney Metro challenge or opportunity.

This is the fifth Metro Minds STEAM challenge to take place, with students taking on real project roles, employing the design thinking process, and working with Sydney Metro ambassadors to refine their ideas.

The challenge was undertaken by 82 teams from 19 schools. Five finalist teams were shortlisted and invited to pitch their innovation to a judging panel comprised of Sydney Metro project directors and a live audience of over 80 people at the Aerial UTS Function Centre.

The winning team from Riverside Girls High School presented an innovative idea called UPIC (User Personalised Integrated Carriages), which includes customisable seating configurations based on short, medium and long commutes. UPIC also includes panels on carriages showing carriage capacity in real time to address the accessibility and convenience associated with riding the metro. 

The other finalists included students from Catherine McAuley Westmead, North Sydney Boys High School, Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus and Xavier College. 

The student teams produced a concept brief, video pitch and prototype of their innovation, then presented them to Sydney Metro.

Learn more about our education programs and competition.