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A series of exciting, school-based treasure hunts wrapped up last Thursday (11 August), following the delivery of four unique ‘Hunting Minerals, Metals and More’ workshops by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA).

As the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), these informative QMEA workshops involved about 200 Glenala State High School students becoming ‘science detectives’ for a day.

QRC Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Ms Katrina-Lee Jones said students tracked down clues around the classroom that connected elements in the Periodic Table with everyday products.

“This program provides students with an opportunity to make a personal connection with natural resources by encouraging them to understand how minerals – and the metals derived from them – are used,” Ms Jones said.

“During the four workshops, students completed a ‘scavenger hunt’ using ‘clues’ from a Minerals Council of Australia fact sheet.

“We know students benefit from learning experiences that get their investigative and problem-solving skills involved, so this program invites students to track down clues around the classroom and solve a resources-related puzzle.

“From everyday products like soap, sunscreen, and toothpaste, to the smart phones in their pockets or the solar panels on their roofs – these sessions demonstrated how natural resources play an integral role in students’ everyday lives,” she said.

“The message is the minerals and energy sector needs a sustainable talent pipeline of young men and women entering the workforce to continue to produce the high-quality resources that go into everything we use.

“We hope these workshops have inspired students to consider an exciting and rewarding career in the resources sector.”

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. This workshop was possible thanks to the support of QRC member companies through an education levy.

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 90 schools and is a partnership between the QRC and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.