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The danger of fire is well known, but how much do we know about the fire resistance of different materials?

This question and more were investigated by Year 9 students at Dalby State High School today as part of a special science workshop delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council.

The full-day workshop was especially developed to align with the Year 9 science curriculum and was a mix of practical experiments, scientific observations and critical thinking by the students. It was a great way to finish up a busy term of science!

The workshop was made possible with the generous sponsorship of Arrow Energy who had members of their team attend the workshop and share their expertise with the students.

Arrow Energy’s Health and Safety Advisor, Jess Henry, said safety was a priority in the industry and the flammability experiment provided a unique opportunity to talk to the students about the importance of fire-resistant materials.

 “By observing how cotton, linen and wool each reacted to fire they could see why we select certain materials for our uniforms and PPE to reduce risks,” said Jess.

Katrina-Lee Jones, Director of Skills, Education and Diversity at the Queensland Resources Council said the workshop involved critical thinking as the students were challenged to consider how the flammability experiment could be modified and improved.

“Our aim is to stimulate their curiosity and encourage the students to add their own ideas to the scientific processes during the day,” said Ms Jones.

“By the end of the workshop they should not only have a better understanding about fire resistance materials but also why this information is critical to the safety of people working in the energy and resources sector,” she said.

The insights these students gained today may one day translate into innovations and improvements in industry safety practices in the future.”