Gladstone will be amassed with robotics experts today with more than 200 teachers, students and parents showing off their talents.

They’re taking part in the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy’s (QMEA) DroBoBots workshops, made possible by Shell’s QGC business, Robotics Futures Program.

The Robotic Futures program aims to excite teachers and their students in the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), and uses automation and robotics to drive interest and achievement of skills.

Teachers’ ability to teach STEM subjects is enhanced through exciting and engaging experiences linked to the Australian Digital Technologies Curriculum.

The Robotics Futures Program also presented four local primary school teachers with ‘Digital Capital Champion’ honours, granting them additional support and training to enhance their teaching of digital technologies.

QMEA and the Digital Capital Champions have customised workshops for their schools, showing off everything from humanoid robots, the latest in drone design and technology as well as preparing Gladstone teams for the CQ Junior Robotic Competition to be held later in Term 3.

“Shell’s QGC business is proud to support this innovative program that helps prepare students for the jobs of the future,” said the Company’s Social Performance Manager, Simon Nish.

“Our support for STEM initiatives is all about getting students and teachers excited about and pursuing STEM subjects. This program does that through a practical, hands-on program,” he said.

“We look forward to seeing these students in our future workforce as tomorrow’s innovators and leaders, helping us solve global challenges like producing more and cleaner energy.”

“This program has really boosted my confidence to teach digital technologies to my students and it’s amazing to see all their lightbulb moments as they relate the mathematics, for example by making a robot move in a certain way” said Tanya Carter of Tannum Sands State School and QMEA Digital Capital Champion.