2 September 2020

Students from four Gladstone schools will vie for honours in a paper plane competition run by the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA) today, which has students using physics concepts to design an aircraft with the longest flight time.

The workshop, supported by ConocoPhillips Australia, downstream operator of Australia Pacific LNG, encourages teamwork and places real-world budget and deadline factors into the mix.

“Australia Pacific LNG is proud to support these activities, which help students connect classroom studies to every day and practical situations,” said Rob Gibb, Manager Communities and Sustainable Development for ConocoPhillips Australia.

“QMEA also helps students to understand career pathways related to science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), and particularly those within the resources sector. Our sector is very technology focused and we are going to need many more of these bright minds,” he said.

Chanel College Principal Susan Bunkum said the workshop was a great way to make physics fun for the students and engage them in the subject.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the students testing their concepts this term before competing in the grand final of the competition next term,” she said.

“Of course, I am biased and hope that Chanel College will retain the perpetual trophy for our trophy cabinet.”

The QMEA is a partnership between the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and the Queensland Government under its Gateway to Industry Schools program. It has 75 schools throughout Queensland.

The QRC is the peak representative body for Queensland’s resource sector. The Queensland resources sector provides one in every five dollars in the Queensland economy, sustains one in seven Queensland jobs, and supports more than 14,400 businesses and community organisations across the state, all from 0.1 percent of Queensland’s land mass.

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Media contact: Anthony Donaghy 0412 450 360