There might be a pandemic, but that isn’t stopping science week being celebrated in style in the copper city with local students taking part in activities organised by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

Year 10 students at Spinifex State College and Good Shepherd Catholic College took part in a simulated copper mining exercise. They had to contend with short time frames and limited access to equipment while ensuring that their ‘mine’ complied with all relevant safety and environmental regulations.

They learnt how the metal was extracted from the copper ore, comparing two methods to find the one with the best yield.

To cap off the day, students explored the principles of process engineering, and put their problem-solving skills to the test, to design the perfect drink. Non-alcoholic of course.

Spinifex State College Principal Chris Pocock said the exercises demonstrate how science, technology engineering and maths (STEM) concepts learned in the classroom are used in the world of work every day.

“The hands-on nature of the activities, reinforced with interaction from Glencore’s Mount Isa Mines’ staff, make this an excellent learning experience,” he said.

Fiona Pascoe, Acting Group Manager Human Resources, Glencore’s Queensland Metals says aid innovation and technology had always underpinned the success of the resources sector.

“It’s really important we foster a new generation interested in working in the mining and processing industries,” said Fiona.

“Providing local students with opportunities to explore the real-life application of mining and processing concepts will hopefully spark a passion for pursuing a career in these fields.

“We also think there’s great value in having Glencore employees take their professional knowledge and experience into the classroom as it provides an opportunity to actively promote the leadership skills of our people in the communities where we operate.”

The QMEA is a partnership between the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program. It has 75 schools throughout Queensland

QRC is the peak representative body for Queensland‘s resource sector. The Queensland resources sector provides one in every five dollars in the Queensland economy, sustains one in seven Queensland jobs, supports more than 14,400 businesses and almost 1400 community organisations across the state, all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

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Media contact: Anthony Donaghy 0412 450 360