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Drones, driverless trucks, and data mining might sound like something involved in the future resources and energy sector, but it’s happening now.

That’s what 25 students from Pimlico State High School and Ignatius Park College have today (28 April) learnt when they uploaded some new digital skills into their minds at the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy’s (QMEA) ‘Beakers.Bots.Build’ workshop.

As the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), the QMEA designed this workshop to show students how innovative and advanced technologies in the resources sector are, and how they can pursue a rewarding career in the industry.

QRC’s Director of Skills, Education and Diversity, Katrina-Lee Jones said this workshop is a great opportunity to encourage students to pursue further studies in maths and science in preparation for a university or vocational pathway into the industry.

“During the session today, Year 9 students got to work in teams and put their problem solving, coding, and design thinking skills to the test,” she said.

“With guidance from experienced mining engineers, the students programmed a Lego robot, and worked together to complete engineering tasks that simulate real-world situations at a mine site”.

Pimlico State High School Principal, Joel Buchholz said students benefited from collaborating as a team, utilising modern technologies to help solve everyday challenges.

“This workshop allowed our students to take fundamental principles learned in their maths and science classes and transfer their skills to various roles in the resources sector, in a safe and stimulating environment”.

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