Students show science and engineering skills at USQ

Students from Millmerran State P-10 School working on the 'biobot'

Day three of the Regional Science and Engineering Challenge saw students from eight high schools in Toowoomba, Ipswich, Warwick, Crows Nest and Millmerran test their skills across a variety of challenges.

Meg Reid, Rachel Servis, Adam Hughes and James Young from Millmerran State School were enthusiastic to learn new skills and build a variety of objects.

‘At the moment we are building a ‘biobot’ where we use straws and elastic to build a model hand’ said Meg who is in year nine.

The school suggested that the students come along and take part in the Challenge.

‘The teachers thought it would be a good idea and helped us to get here,’ said Adam, a year nine student.

The Science and Engineering Challenge allows students to test the knowledge they have learnt in the classroom in a series of challenges.

‘We will be building this biobot most of the day and I am also looking forward to some other challenges,’ said Rachel, in Year 8.

It also acts as a preview to see if students want to continue with science or engineering for a career.

‘I have really enjoyed it so far and I think that I would like to go on and study science after school,’ said James, a Year 10 student.

Students from Millmerran State P-10 School took out the day’s competition.

The event is being held at the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) until this Friday (20 May).

Seven schools took part in today’s (May 19) activities: St Peter Claver College (Ipswich), Toowoomba State High School (Mt Lofty campus), Harristown State High School, Millmerran State P-10 School, Warwick State High School, Centenary Heights State High School, Crow’s Nest State High School and St Mary’s College (Toowoomba).

During the four-day event, almost 1000 students from 31 schools will compete against each other in eight different activities. The team with the most points receives a trophy. The two highest scoring teams from the Challenge will go on to compete in the Super Challenge against teams from northern New South Wales.

The Challenge dinner, to be held at 6.30pm on Thursday night, will feature guest speaker Lindsay Brown, Professor of Biomedical Sciences at USQ.

Contact Details:
Sam Tickell, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 2559