Local high school student address government and industry forum

Local year 12 student and Toowoomba Christian College school captain, Cole Schoultz, was in esteemed company when he represented the University of Southern Queensland’s (USQ) Primary Industry Centre for Science Education (PICSE) Centre at a recent government and industry forum in Canberra.

As one of only ten young people invited nationwide, Cole made a presentation to the PICSE Think Tank on issues relating to Australia’s food security. Independent MP Tony Windsor and Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr also attended the event.

The Think Tank was hosted by PICSE, a national education strategy which aims to encourage young people to pursue careers in food security, and provided a platform for students, politicians and industry to discus Australia’s significant shortage of trained scientists in the food and water fields.

USQ hosts a PICSE centre on campus and collaborates with scheme through the provision of industry placements and scholarships for high school students including Cole.

'Attending the PICSE Think Tank in Canberra, I was astounded to see that the industry leaders and politicians were very interested to know our thoughts pertaining to Primary Industry. I also learnt that Australia's Primary Industries have a vast amount of careers to offer and it is these that provide the foundation of Australia’s economy,' Cole said.

The Think Tank was followed by a reception at Parliament House, where Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr presented two PICSE students with awards and said it was vital that students were given opportunities to learn more about science because they would be the researchers of tomorrow.

'PICSE has a highly innovative approach to science education that not only inspires future scientists but links to important global issues like future food supply and changing climates,' Senator Carr said.

Working alongside PhD students, and under the supervision of Professor Lindsay Brown, Cole undertook an industry placement in USQ’S research laboratories, where he has been researching food treatments for obesity and arthritis.

'The industry placement experience has been like no other that I have attended. I had no idea of the knowledge that I would be able to take away and share with others,' Cole said.

USQ PICSE Science Education Officer Mary McGilvray also attended the Think Tank and said the PICSE program is an excellent way to connect high school students with science through industry placements.

'Each year, USQ’s Faculty of Sciences offers scholarships for up to twenty-five Year 11 and 12 students which allows the students to see firsthand some of the research being carried out by industry and the university,' she said.

Contact Details:
Connie-Louise Rego, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2977