Girls win regional challenge

USQ Vice Chancellor Professor Bill Lovegrove presented the Regional Science and Engineering Grand Challenge trophy to Kate Carmichael, Madeline Wuth, Edwina Francis and Kate Degnian from The Glennie School.

Girls reigned supreme at the Regional Science and Engineering Challenge, with The Glennie School taking out the overall Champion trophy on the final day of the event.

Held at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) over four days (6-9 May 2008), the annual event attracted close to 1,000 grade nine and ten students from across the Darling Downs.

2008 Challenge Coordinator Mary McGilvray said the annual competition encourages students to apply the principles of science, engineering and technology in a series of fun and competitive activities.

'This is the fifth year the University has hosted the event and it was great to see all the schools getting involved and enjoying themselves.

'Particular credit must go to The Glennie School who dominated competition on the first day of the event and won the Challenge overall.

'As daily winners, Ipswich Boys Grammar, Concordia College and St Joseph's College have also booked themselves a ticket to the Science and Engineering Super Challenge, to be held at the University of Queensland in Brisbane in August.'

A new activity, ‘So, who gets the water?' was a popular Challenge this year.

'As part of this activity, students were charged with developing a new, cutting edge way of reticulating water around the nation and demonstrate how engineering and problem solving is applied in the real world,' Mrs McGilvray said.

The addition of twelve new sponsors was also a highlight of this year's Challenge.

'This year Civil Mining and Construction, New Hope Cooperation, Solidtech Engineering Services Pty Ltd, Opus International Consultants, Ergon Energy, GHD Pty Ltd, Humes, Rowen Meyer and Associates, Wagstaff Piling, Moonrise Estate Winery, Rimfire Winery and the Queensland College of Wine Tourism signed up to support the Challenge.

'These sponsors joined our list of existing sponsors including the Department of Main Roads, Science Centre of Innovation and Professional Practice, the USQ Student Guild, Rotary Club of Toowoomba East, Armstrong Auto Group, Engineers Australia, Buchanan Advanced Composites and Dornbusch Partners.

'Without the support of these businesses and our wonderful volunteer base we wouldn't be able to run the Challenge.

'Sponsorship helps to pay for trophies for the winning schools, refreshments for volunteers and teachers, Challenge shirts for the volunteers, and stadium hire, two days of which are sponsored by the USQ Student Guild.

'The additional sponsorship this year will also allow us to assist the schools who will be competing in the Super Challenge and hopefully the Grand Challenge later this year.'

Media Contact: Amy Cass, USQ Media +61 7 4631 2092