Click here for workshop photos.

Move over Cold Chisel, INXS and Jebidiah – there is a band of future rock stars forming in Roma, and there isn’t a drum kit to be seen.

Year 8 students from Roma State College and St John’s Catholic School delved into the world of rocks this week in a special geology workshop delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC).

The students completed a series of activities exploring rock cycles, geological exploration processes and crystal formation, all with the support of geology experts from Senex, the workshop sponsor.

Roma State College principal, Regan Gant said the workshop was the perfect complement to the Year 8 earth sciences curriculum.

“Geology has been a major part of their studies this year and today’s workshop has applied this knowledge to the real-world, giving the students a new perspective on geological exploration and its importance,” said Mr Gant.

Trevor Robertson, Community Relations Manager at Senex said in addition to discovering geological processes the students also got an idea of the various roles involved in exploring the earth.

“There is so much more to geology than just digging up rocks – there are project planners, digital technology specialists, data and environmental scientists and geologists, so there is a wealth of potential careers.

QRC Director of Education, Skills and Diversity, Ms Katrina-Lee Jones, said the workshop had been designed to incorporate local knowledge into content from the national curriculum.

“During the workshop the students use a model air drill to investigate the stages of a rock cycle in the laboratory and then conduct an experiment to identify how temperature impacts on the formation of crystals,” said Ms Jones.

“The Senex team members were able to share how these investigations are mirrored in their work exploring and producing natural gas for Queensland,” she said.

“I hope today’s experience has inspired them to continue studying earth sciences as it could ultimately lead to a career in the energy and resources sector and the importance of science, technology, engineering and maths to our everyday lives when it comes to energy.”