It’ll be a rockin’ week for Taroom and Theodore students as they navigate the rock cycle and learn how to extract gold.

Students at Taroom and Theodore state schools will take part in events run by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council.

Taroom State School principal Angela Heslin said students would explore how igneous rocks are formed by observing the crystal size of liquids cooling and investigate the rock cycle by observing how limestone reacts to both chemical and physical reactions.

“As well as bringing their text books to life, an important aspect of the Rocking Reactions activity will be students’ interaction with representatives from Glencore Wandoan who will mentor them and share information about the many and varied careers available in the resources sector,” she said.

“Our people really enjoy interacting with the students and sharing their career experiences while encouraging them to aim high,” said Glencore Wandoan’s Rick Matthews.

“It’s important for them to know there are great careers available to them right here in their home town.”

Meanwhile, students at Theodore State School will take part in QMEA’s STEM Unearthed and Tradies for a Day events.

Theodore State School Principal Sue Cannon said students looked forward to these hands-on activities that related directly to their classroom learning.

“Talking to Cracow Gold Mine representatives will help students think about the subjects they should be considering in senior school,” she said.

“It really helps open them up to the possibilities available to them and how to achieve them.”

“Our people are really looking forward to working with students to create a game using Scratch programming, which will be linked to extracting gold,’ said Aeris Resources General Manager John Miller.

“And our expert trades people will be on hand to help build a hydraulic arm as part of the Tradies for a Day activity.

“Nothing beats these hands-on experiences with people from our industry in fostering enthusiasm for trade and STEM careers in our sector.”

The QMEA engages with 80 schools throughout Queensland and is a partnership between the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and the State Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program.

The QRC is Queensland’s peak representative body for coal, metal and gas explorers, producers and suppliers across the resources sector. It contributes one in every five dollars to the Queensland economy, sustains one in six Queensland jobs and supports more than 14,400 businesses and 1400 community organisations across the state – all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

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Media contact: Caroline Morrissey 0417 770 893 or carolinem@qrc.org.au