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Mount Isa students will this week discover the fun of physics, using concepts to design an aircraft with the longest flight time as part of the competitive Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) workshop, Physics in Flight.

Along with representatives from Glencore Mount Isa Mines (MIM) the QMEA, the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), will mentor almost 200 Year 7 and 8 students from Good Shepherd Catholic College (29 March) and Spinifex State College (31 March) as they vie for first place in the paper plane challenge.

QRC’s Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones said the students’ learning is significantly enhanced by engaging with and being guided by Glencore MIM’s employees who will join in on the challenge.

“Thanks to Glencore MIM’s involvement, the students not only learn how their science lessons apply in the real world, but also the range of occupations open to them locally that utilise physics concepts and how to step into those career pathways,” she said.

Now in its fourth year, the Physics in Flight program showcases the many amazing career pathways available in Queensland’s minerals and energy sector. Throughout the workshops, students will better understand how physics is used across various levels of the resources sector including drone application, scheduling and planning and customising site equipment.

Glencore MIM’s Assets and Engineering Manager, Jim Faulkner, says it’s important that our engineering graduates are involved in person to provide real-world perspective on how classroom physics can be applied in everyday situations and to assist students in researching, designing and testing their paper planes.

“The skills learnt today have application across a whole range of Glencore engineering and design projects. Glencore MIM is proud to be investing in the next generation of the resources sector workforce.” Jim said.

“The demand for jobs in Queensland’s mining industry is set to grow but the skill set also needs to grow with it. That’s why I am thrilled to encourage the students to further develop their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills today.

Spinifex State College Head of Campus Chris Pocock said that QMEA’s workshop is an engaging concept that demonstrates to the students how physics is all around us and gives their classroom learning real-world context.

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.