Click here for photos and video of Pulleys for Productivity workshop 

Click here for photos of Lighting the Way workshop   

Over 1200 students from Mansfield Sate High School will have a chance to scratch their scientific itch with the delivery of specialist science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) workshops throughout February.  

They may have just started high school, but Year 7 students at Mansfield SHS have shown nothing but confidence when it comes to participating in physics workshops delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) this month.  

The Pulleys for Productivity workshop explores basic physics and how the introduction of a pulley system helps to move heavy loads, including cranes on a mining site.  

Year 9 students have also had their scientific minds enlightened with a series of Lighting the Way workshops, examining the physics of refractive light and how it is applied to improve visibility and safety in a work environment.  

Nathan O’Donnell, Mansfield SHS Senior Science teacher and a QMEA 20-year Educator Award winner, said the QMEA STEM workshops connected classroom learning to real-world applications in the resources and energy industries.  

“In the workshops students are engaging in practical, hands-on problem-solving strengthening their understanding of engineering and physics concepts,” said Mr O’Donnell.  

“These experiences help students see a pathway into future careers while building their confidence and collaboration skills,” he said.  

Mr O’Donnell said receiving a QMEA Powerful Teacher award was a great honour and reflected his long-standing association with the academy.  

“I am going to invest the award funds into supporting our staff and students attending Queensland Resource Council events including the Resources Awards for Women on International Women’s Day,” said Mr O’Donnell.  

“Events like these broaden horizons and expose the students to industry leaders.” 

Katrina-Lee Jones, QRC Policy Director for Education, Skills and Diversity, said the number of students attending the workshops at Mansfield State High School reflected the school’s investment in STEM education.  

“Mansfield SHS is one of the newer schools in the QMEA network and they have fully embraced the opportunity the QMEA has provided to link STEM studies to the resources industry,” said Ms Jones.   

“Having the lived experience of people in the industry, from BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) and Glencore Technology, joining the students in some of the workshops has been an additional bonus for the students.” 

“Our aim is to give the students a new perspective to their studies and engage them with the resources industry which plays such a big part in the Queensland community and economy,” she said.