Year 11 students with a passion for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) will converge on Brisbane to test-drive their university ambitions at a hands-on QUT camp in the June school holidays.
The QUT Vice-Chancellor's STEM Camp will give 121 top school students from across Queensland an opportunity to apply their creativity and investigative skills to a range of global challenges related to energy, food, the environment, IT and security.
Entry to the camp was hotly contested and QUT's Executive Dean of Science and Engineering, Professor Martin Betts, said the teenagers selected - and their schools - should be very proud of their involvement.
"This is QUT's first Vice-Chancellor's STEM Camp and we have been overwhelmed by the number and quality of applications from schools around Brisbane and across Queensland," Professor Betts said.
"It's no secret that Australia urgently needs more bright young people to study science, technology, engineering and maths at a university level and go on to work in these areas which are so critical to global prosperity and security.
"This camp is a great opportunity for Year 11 students to get a better understanding of degrees and careers in STEM fields and meet professionals already in those industries, including the ABCs 'Surfing Scientist' Ruben Meerman and Power of Engineering founder Felicity Briody."
The STEM camp - which is fully-funded by QUT - will be held from June 24 to 28 at the university's Gardens Point campus, where the young students will be immersed in the world-class learning environment of QUT's new $230 million Science and Engineering Centre.
The technology that will, literally, be at their fingertips includes one of the world's largest digital interactive learning and display spaces. The Cube is a two-storey high digital marvel that features 14 high-definition projectors and over 40 multi-touch screens.
Students will end their STEM campu experience with a lunch with QUT's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Peter Coaldrake, on the final day.
Visit www.qut.edu.au/science-engineering.
The Brisbane schools taking part in the QUT STEM camp (and number of students from each) are:
- Alexandra Hills State High School (1)
- Balmoral State High School (1)
- Browns Plains State High School (1)
- Carmel College (1)
- Clairvaux MacKillop College (1)
- Corinda State High School (1)
- Grace Lutheran College, Rothwell (1)
- Ipswich Girls Grammar School (1)
- Loreto College, Coorparoo (1)
- MacGregor State High School (1)
- Our Lady's College (1)
- Queensland Academy for Science, Maths and Technology (1)
- Sandgate District State High School (1)
- Somerville House (1)
- St Aidan's Anglical Girls' School (1)
- Villanova College (1)
- St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace (1)
- Brisbane Girls' Grammar School (2)
- Brisbane State High School (2)
- Clayfield College (2)
- Ferny Grove State High School (2)
- John Paul College, Brisbane (2)
- Kelvin Grove State College (2)
- Mansfield State High School (2)
- Moreton Bay College (2)
- Ormiston College (2)
- Prince of Peace Lutheran College (2)
- Redlands College (2)
- Runcorn State High School (2)
- St Margaret's Anglical Girls' School (2)
- St Peter's Lutheran College (2)
- Wellington Point State High School (2)
The regional schools taking part in the QUT STEM camp (and number of students from each) are:
- St Luke's Anglican School, Bundaberg(4)
- Aldridge State High School(3)
- Emerald State High School (3)
- Holy Spirit College (3)
- Kirwan State High School (3)
- Mareeba State High School(3)
- Murgon State High School (3)
- Oakey State High School (3)
- Pimlico State High School (3)
- St Andrew's Catholic College, Cairns (3)
- St Mary's College, Maryborough (3)
- St Monica's College, Cairns (3)
- St Ursula's College, Yeppoon (3)
- Whitsunday Anglican School (3)
- Fairholme College, Toowoomba (2)
- Fraser Coast Anglican College(2)
- Mackay State High School (2)
- Malanda High School (2)
- Noosa District State High School (2)
- Shalom College(2)
- Smithfield State High School (2)
- St Mary's Catholic College, Woree (2)
- Townsville Grammar School (2)
- Trinity Anglican School, Cairns (2)
- Atherton State High School (1)
- Ayr State High School (1)
- Biloela State High School (1)
- Burdekin Catholic High School(1)
- Centenary Heights State High School (1)
- Columba Catholic College (1)
- Ignatius Park College, Townsville (1)
- Immanuel Lutheran College (1)
- Ipswich Grammar School (1)
- Isis District State High School (1)
- St Patrick's College, Gympie (1)
- Trinity Bay State High School, Cairns (1)
Media contact: Mechelle McMahon, QUT media officer, 07 3138 9449 (Mon & Thurs) or media@qut.edu.au (Mon-Fri)
Media note: More details on students from individual schools/areas are available from camp coordinator Simone Long - simone.long@qut.edu.au or 07 3138 4488
