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Brisbane students across multiple year levels will discover the many Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related career opportunities available to them when they take part in a jam-packed science session this afternoon, thanks to the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

The QMEA, the Queensland Resources Council’s education arm, will visit Centenary State High School to give over 100 students a taste of a career in the resources industry.

QRC’s Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones said the workshop activities help students to develop skills in collaboration, trial and error, decision making, science inquiry, design, and data collection and data analysis – the types of skills needed across many rewarding jobs in the resources sector.

“Supported by the generosity of QRC members, the Scarcity or Sustainability, Hunting Minerals, Metals and More and Lighting the Way workshops will showcase the hands-on and technical aspects of the many opportunities available in STEM-related careers.” Mr Jones said.

“The year seven cohort will dive into the Scarcity or Sustainability workshop used to demonstrate how to use Earth’s resources wisely through a game of strategy.

“The year eight cohort take part in the Hunting Minerals, Metals and More workshop designed to investigate the role critical minerals play in lowering carbon emissions through renewable energy technologies.

“While the year nine cohort will have quite an enlightening experience when they learn how the properties of light are used in safety, and how retroreflectors are being used effectively in signs and road markings in place of electronic signs in the Lighting the Way workshop.

Centenary State High School Principal Jo Hughes said the three workshops provide fun hands activities that link the science curriculum to real world resource industry applications.

“The QMEA goes out of its way to guide and advise students about the realities of the resources sector and the best way to use their talents for a fulfilling career. All the challenges and hands-on activities bring the real-world into their studies,” she said.

As Australia’s largest and most successful industry-led education and schools training initiative, the QMEA seeks to broaden student and teacher knowledge of career opportunities in resources.

The academy encourages a talent pipeline of employees into vocational and professional careers, with a focus on female and Indigenous participation. The QMEA currently engages with over 90 schools and is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.