Published Wednesday, 30 July, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Schools celebrate agricultural science success at Hermitage
Students from across Australia have been rewarded for doing their sums on seeds.
Almost 100 entries from 101 national schools were received for the 2008 Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ Hermitage Research Station Schools’ Plant Science Competition. This was the highest number of schools to enter in the competition’s 12 year history.
The Presentation Day for the “Sums on seeding a super crop” themed competition was held on site at Hermitage Research Station, Warwick.
As a result of the 2008 competition - which attracted interest from across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia - more than 6000 students have an increased knowledge of seed germination and plant populations. A total of 98 entries were received from Prep to Year 12 students from primary schools, high schools and colleges.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin attended the presentation ceremony and congratulated all the schools that won prizes this year: Toowoomba State High School, Mt Gravatt State High School, Bowen State High School, Alexandra Hills State High School, Stanthorpe State High School, Killarney State School, Millmerran State School, Rockhampton Girls Grammar, Windera State School, Goondiwindi State School, Rockhampton Grammar School, Dalby South State School, Coorparoo State School, Glenden State School, Pilton State School, and Cawarral State School.
Mr Mulherin said the competition successfully demonstrated interesting and rewarding career paths for young people in science and primary industries.
“The main goal of our plant science competition is to stimulate an interest in science and agriculture in young people and to express to children that science is a great, long-term, rewarding career choice,” he said.
“Part of DPI&Fs’ fresh approach to science is ensuring that our research is as timely, accessible and relevant as possible and promoting the agricultural sector as a viable career option for young Queenslanders.”
Competition topics are related to research carried out at the Hermitage Research Station, and Education Queensland staff provided assistance by ensuring the topic and tasks complemented the school science curriculum.
Competition organiser Kerrie Rubie, from Hermitage Research Station, said for this year’s competition, titled “Sums on seeding a super crop”, students were asked to perform two plant science experiments.
“The first was to design their own experiment to test the germination rate of two packets of sorghum seeds,” she said.
“The second experiment asked students to use the instructions provided to grow a high and low density crop of sorghum and observe what happens to the plants.
“Students were also asked to do some research into the importance of seed viability and establishing robust field crops, as well as consider the consequences a high or low density crop could have for a farmer.”
The optional drawing competition also proved popular with the younger competitors. Students from Prep to Year 7 were asked to draw a cartoon character seed, from which a total of 212 creative entries were received.
A range of prizes were allocated over each year category (P-3, 4-7, 8-10 and 11-12) including science kits, books, CD ROMs, certificates, trophies and medallions. The Paul Johnston Memorial Trust, a new competition sponsor in 2008, donated two new major awards to the value of $1500 for students in the Year 11-12 category.
“After the official awards ceremony, a tour of the research station provided an opportunity for students and teachers to interact with our scientists and to learn about “real-life” plant science research projects and trial experiments conducted at the station,” Mrs Rubie said.
The 2008 competition was sponsored by Grains Research and Development Corporation, The Paul Johnston Memorial Trust, Education Queensland, Pioneer Seeds, Grains Research Foundation, Australian Institute for Agricultural Science and Technology, Blue Ribbon Seed and Pulse Exporters, HSR Group, Dr and Mrs Joe Baker, Selected Seeds and DPI&F.
Results
Years Prep-3
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Paige Owen (Year 3) Pilton State School
• Highly Commended - Clayton Brady (Year Prep), Edward Witherspoon (Year 1), Asher Casley-Priest (Year 2) and Melinda Groombridge (Year 3) from Pilton State School
• First - Cawarral State School (Years2/3), and
• Second - Pilton State School (Years P-3).
Years 4-7
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Jade Dawson (Year 7, home student)
• First - Goondiwindi State School (Year 6)
• Second - Rockhampton Grammar School (Year 4)
• Third - Dalby South State School (Years 2-7) and Coorparoo State School (Year 5), and
• Encouragement Award - Jimmy McKinnon (Year 7, home student) and Glenden State School (Year 3/4).
Years 8-10
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Rebecca Clark, Jessica Grima, Loren Tierney, Luke Vear and Elise Wilton (Year 10, Alexandra Hills State High School)
• Highly Commended - Tori Reynolds, Courtney Evans, Connor O’Leary, Aaron Prasser & Blake Ralph (Year 10, Alexandra Hills State High School), Lillian Paterson (Year 10, Stanthorpe State High School), Bowen State High School students Tom Andison (Year 10), Chris Fetch (Year 10) and Dylan Grieve (Year 9), and Elish Ross (Year 9, Killarney State School)
• First - Millmerran State School (Year 8)
• Second - Alexandra Hills State High School (Year 10)
• Third - Killarney State School (year 8/9/10), and
• Encouragement award - Rockhampton Girls Grammar (Year 9/10).
Years 11-12
• Senior Science Award Winner - Thomas Bradford (Year 12, Toowoomba State High School);
• Senior Science Award Runner Up - Tyla Smith (Year 12, Toowoomba State High School);
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Thomas Bradford (Year 12, Toowoomba State High School);
• Highly Commended - Jessica Head (Year 12, Toowoomba State High School) ;
• First - Toowoomba State High School Year 12) and
• Encouragement award - Amy Hwang (Year 12, Mt Gravatt State High School).
Fun Test: Can You Sprout It?
Winner - Millmerran State School (Year 8) Oldest Seed: Mixed Herbs dated 1993.
Cartoon Character Seed Drawing Competition
• Year P: Levi Stratham, Pilton State School
• Year 1: Kelly lea Wormington, Pilton State School
• Year 2: Forde King-Gee, Cawarral State School
• Year 3: Ewen Butler, Pilton State School
• Year 4: Toni McKee, Pilton State School
• Year 5: Isabella Scott, Coorparoo State School
• Year 6: Brendan Groombridge, Pilton State School
• Year 7: Jacalyn Robertson, Pilton State School
Media:
Ministers office 32396530
DPI&F: Louisa McKerrow, 0419 781 530
Almost 100 entries from 101 national schools were received for the 2008 Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries’ Hermitage Research Station Schools’ Plant Science Competition. This was the highest number of schools to enter in the competition’s 12 year history.
The Presentation Day for the “Sums on seeding a super crop” themed competition was held on site at Hermitage Research Station, Warwick.
As a result of the 2008 competition - which attracted interest from across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia - more than 6000 students have an increased knowledge of seed germination and plant populations. A total of 98 entries were received from Prep to Year 12 students from primary schools, high schools and colleges.
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries Tim Mulherin attended the presentation ceremony and congratulated all the schools that won prizes this year: Toowoomba State High School, Mt Gravatt State High School, Bowen State High School, Alexandra Hills State High School, Stanthorpe State High School, Killarney State School, Millmerran State School, Rockhampton Girls Grammar, Windera State School, Goondiwindi State School, Rockhampton Grammar School, Dalby South State School, Coorparoo State School, Glenden State School, Pilton State School, and Cawarral State School.
Mr Mulherin said the competition successfully demonstrated interesting and rewarding career paths for young people in science and primary industries.
“The main goal of our plant science competition is to stimulate an interest in science and agriculture in young people and to express to children that science is a great, long-term, rewarding career choice,” he said.
“Part of DPI&Fs’ fresh approach to science is ensuring that our research is as timely, accessible and relevant as possible and promoting the agricultural sector as a viable career option for young Queenslanders.”
Competition topics are related to research carried out at the Hermitage Research Station, and Education Queensland staff provided assistance by ensuring the topic and tasks complemented the school science curriculum.
Competition organiser Kerrie Rubie, from Hermitage Research Station, said for this year’s competition, titled “Sums on seeding a super crop”, students were asked to perform two plant science experiments.
“The first was to design their own experiment to test the germination rate of two packets of sorghum seeds,” she said.
“The second experiment asked students to use the instructions provided to grow a high and low density crop of sorghum and observe what happens to the plants.
“Students were also asked to do some research into the importance of seed viability and establishing robust field crops, as well as consider the consequences a high or low density crop could have for a farmer.”
The optional drawing competition also proved popular with the younger competitors. Students from Prep to Year 7 were asked to draw a cartoon character seed, from which a total of 212 creative entries were received.
A range of prizes were allocated over each year category (P-3, 4-7, 8-10 and 11-12) including science kits, books, CD ROMs, certificates, trophies and medallions. The Paul Johnston Memorial Trust, a new competition sponsor in 2008, donated two new major awards to the value of $1500 for students in the Year 11-12 category.
“After the official awards ceremony, a tour of the research station provided an opportunity for students and teachers to interact with our scientists and to learn about “real-life” plant science research projects and trial experiments conducted at the station,” Mrs Rubie said.
The 2008 competition was sponsored by Grains Research and Development Corporation, The Paul Johnston Memorial Trust, Education Queensland, Pioneer Seeds, Grains Research Foundation, Australian Institute for Agricultural Science and Technology, Blue Ribbon Seed and Pulse Exporters, HSR Group, Dr and Mrs Joe Baker, Selected Seeds and DPI&F.
Results
Years Prep-3
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Paige Owen (Year 3) Pilton State School
• Highly Commended - Clayton Brady (Year Prep), Edward Witherspoon (Year 1), Asher Casley-Priest (Year 2) and Melinda Groombridge (Year 3) from Pilton State School
• First - Cawarral State School (Years2/3), and
• Second - Pilton State School (Years P-3).
Years 4-7
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Jade Dawson (Year 7, home student)
• First - Goondiwindi State School (Year 6)
• Second - Rockhampton Grammar School (Year 4)
• Third - Dalby South State School (Years 2-7) and Coorparoo State School (Year 5), and
• Encouragement Award - Jimmy McKinnon (Year 7, home student) and Glenden State School (Year 3/4).
Years 8-10
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Rebecca Clark, Jessica Grima, Loren Tierney, Luke Vear and Elise Wilton (Year 10, Alexandra Hills State High School)
• Highly Commended - Tori Reynolds, Courtney Evans, Connor O’Leary, Aaron Prasser & Blake Ralph (Year 10, Alexandra Hills State High School), Lillian Paterson (Year 10, Stanthorpe State High School), Bowen State High School students Tom Andison (Year 10), Chris Fetch (Year 10) and Dylan Grieve (Year 9), and Elish Ross (Year 9, Killarney State School)
• First - Millmerran State School (Year 8)
• Second - Alexandra Hills State High School (Year 10)
• Third - Killarney State School (year 8/9/10), and
• Encouragement award - Rockhampton Girls Grammar (Year 9/10).
Years 11-12
• Senior Science Award Winner - Thomas Bradford (Year 12, Toowoomba State High School);
• Senior Science Award Runner Up - Tyla Smith (Year 12, Toowoomba State High School);
• Outstanding Achievement Award - Thomas Bradford (Year 12, Toowoomba State High School);
• Highly Commended - Jessica Head (Year 12, Toowoomba State High School) ;
• First - Toowoomba State High School Year 12) and
• Encouragement award - Amy Hwang (Year 12, Mt Gravatt State High School).
Fun Test: Can You Sprout It?
Winner - Millmerran State School (Year 8) Oldest Seed: Mixed Herbs dated 1993.
Cartoon Character Seed Drawing Competition
• Year P: Levi Stratham, Pilton State School
• Year 1: Kelly lea Wormington, Pilton State School
• Year 2: Forde King-Gee, Cawarral State School
• Year 3: Ewen Butler, Pilton State School
• Year 4: Toni McKee, Pilton State School
• Year 5: Isabella Scott, Coorparoo State School
• Year 6: Brendan Groombridge, Pilton State School
• Year 7: Jacalyn Robertson, Pilton State School
Media:
Ministers office 32396530
DPI&F: Louisa McKerrow, 0419 781 530