Click here for Roma school workshop photos.

Click here for Miles SHS workshop photos.

STEM workshops have sparked the imagination of young scientists in the Western Downs this week.

Miles State High School students have been immersed in a full-day workshop today, delivered by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) in partnership with Origin Energy.

The Miles SHS workshop follows on from a successful Beakers. ‘Bots. Build. workshop delivered to Year 9 students at Roma State College and St John’s Catholic School.

Miles State High School principal, Josette Moffat, said the QMEA/Origin workshops complemented the students’ curriculum studies across science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

“It is incredibly valuable for the students to have a day with industry experts where they can see how concepts they have studied in these subjects being modelled in the real world,” said Ms Moffatt.

“It brings their STEM studies to life.”

The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and this year is celebrating 20 years of engaging students with the resources industry through STEM and trade workshops.

Katrina-Lee Jones, QRC Policy Director – Skills, Education and Diversity, said the Roma and Miles workshops had given the students a new perspective on how science, technology and engineering is used in the energy sector.

“Origin team members, including pipeline technicians, a graduate engineer and a former QMEA mentor, led the workshops and shared how STEM underpins the exploration, production and transport of energy,” said Ms Jones.

“We have also introduced a new Pipeline Pathfinder activity, giving the students the challenge of gas exploration planning and logistics,” she said.

“Days like this spark their science curiosity and ignite an interest in future careers in the sector, which is a win-win-win for the students, their schools and industry.”