Click here for workshop photos.

There was a sea of science enthusiasts in Blackwater this week with over 300 primary students rising to the challenge of a science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) triathlon – completing three activities testing their critical-thinking, teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Students from years 3-6 at Blackwater State School and Blackwater North State School, were taking part in a Mining BIG Ideas workshop, delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) in partnership with Coronado Resources.

Katrina-Lee Jones, Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Director for Skills, Education and Diversity said the workshop had been especially designed to cater for the primary school students.

“Our team designed technology, physics and engineering activities to challenge the primary students,” said Ms Jones.

“The teams created a racetrack for a remote-controlled robot, designed paper planes to maximise flight efficiency and used engineering principles to construct a model tower,” she said.

“The primary students flexed their scientific muscle and stretched their problem-solving skills with great enthusiasm.”

Peter Murphy, Manager – Organisational Capability at Coronado Resources said they were pleased to be partnering with the QMEA to deliver the primary school workshops, providing a mechanical engineer, environmental scientist, and information technology (IT) specialist to guide the students.

“The Bowen Basin is a hub of activity for Coronado Resources and many of our people have children attending these schools,” said Mr Murphy.

“We hope the STEM triathlon has given the students a of the types of activities happening on a site like Curragh mine and how modern technology helps produce the metallurgical coal needed to create steel.”

Blackwater North State School Acting Principal, Megan Slean, said the students had been excited to spend a day working in teams to complete the STEM triathlon.

“A full-day immersion into the world of STEM, guided by experts from the QMEA and Coronado, was a unique learning experience for our students,” said Ms Slean.

“The competition was fierce but friendly – ultimately you would have to say that science was the winner!”