New support for Science and Engineering Challenge

Twelve new sponsors have come on board for the 2008 Regional Science and Engineering Challenge to be held at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) from 6–9 May 2008.

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.

Challenge Coordinator Mary McGilvray said the influx of new sponsors reflected an increased recognition of the importance of the event to the local community

'The Challenge is an outreach program of the University of Newcastle and was first brought to Queensland in 2004 and has grown each year,' Ms McGilvray said.

'Continued sponsorship will allow us to keep holding the event. 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, but it all adds up.'

32 schools from Toowoomba and the Darling Downs have signed up to take part in this year's Challenge.

Two new events Who gets the water? and Convoy hide and seek will be added to the line-up of challenges to test the young minds.

Winners from the Toowoomba Regional Challenge will go on to compete in the Super Challenge to be held at the University of Queensland in August.

This year the Grand Challenge will be held on the Gold Coast in October.

The 2008 Regional Science and Engineering Challenge will be held at the Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre from Tuesday 6 to Thursday 9 May 2008. Activities run from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm each day.

For a full list of activities and details of the Challenge visit the website www.usq.edu.au/sciences/events/scichallenge.

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559