CLEVER KIDS COMPUTERS AND FAST CARS
Published Monday, 09 October, 2006 at 12:25 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
9 October 2006
Queensland revving up young minds: Mickel
Students from 16 Queensland high schools are revving up their minds in preparation for the Schools Design & Innovation Challenge to be held at the Cairns Convention Centre on October 11.
Congratulating the Challenge teams, Minister for State Development John Mickel said the students had designed, built, and would race the model F1 cars in the state championship.
The winning team will go on to race in the prestigious national finals on 9 November in Brisbane.
“The students applied sophisticated technology to design miniature Formula One-style gas-powered racing cars. They worked with 3D computer software smoke and wind tunnel equipment to manufacture and race the cars on a state-of-the-art track.’’
Mr Mickel said the Challenge program, the first of its kind in Queensland, was designed to encourage young people to pursue engineering and manufacturing-related careers.
“As part of the Government’s commitment, we are now nurturing a generation of engineers to address the skills shortages in the engineering and manufacturing sectors in partnership with regional schools and industries.”
The manufacturing sector is big business for Queensland, employing about 195,000 Queenslanders and generated some $14.9 billion in output, or 10 per cent of Gross State Product in 2004-2005, Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said the F1 challenge would coincide with the opening of a three-day VETNetwork conference, attended by some 700 vocational teachers, trainers, and practitioners from across Australia.
He urged the educators to find ways to nurture employees, help build school-based apprenticeship courses and educate the community about the importance of vocational education and training in schools.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
Queensland revving up young minds: Mickel
Students from 16 Queensland high schools are revving up their minds in preparation for the Schools Design & Innovation Challenge to be held at the Cairns Convention Centre on October 11.
Congratulating the Challenge teams, Minister for State Development John Mickel said the students had designed, built, and would race the model F1 cars in the state championship.
The winning team will go on to race in the prestigious national finals on 9 November in Brisbane.
“The students applied sophisticated technology to design miniature Formula One-style gas-powered racing cars. They worked with 3D computer software smoke and wind tunnel equipment to manufacture and race the cars on a state-of-the-art track.’’
Mr Mickel said the Challenge program, the first of its kind in Queensland, was designed to encourage young people to pursue engineering and manufacturing-related careers.
“As part of the Government’s commitment, we are now nurturing a generation of engineers to address the skills shortages in the engineering and manufacturing sectors in partnership with regional schools and industries.”
The manufacturing sector is big business for Queensland, employing about 195,000 Queenslanders and generated some $14.9 billion in output, or 10 per cent of Gross State Product in 2004-2005, Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said the F1 challenge would coincide with the opening of a three-day VETNetwork conference, attended by some 700 vocational teachers, trainers, and practitioners from across Australia.
He urged the educators to find ways to nurture employees, help build school-based apprenticeship courses and educate the community about the importance of vocational education and training in schools.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784