SCIENCE KIDS ON FAST TRACK

TOWNSVILLE Grammar School students Oliver Livingstone and Ciara Kavanagh ( pictured) were selected for the 2020 QUT Young Accelerators Program, attending a STEM Camp at the Queensland University of Technology.

The program was open to 100 Year 11 students in Queensland, with four from Townsville selected.

Townsville Grammar School head of faculty science Bianca Battoraro said the camp was a unique and valuable hands-on learning experience.

“Ciara and Oliver were able to take part in teams exploring a diverse range of real-world projects including the algorithms behind social media, cancer research, video game development, stem cell therapies, waste solutions and space exploration,” Ms Battoraro said.

“It was great way to explore STEM with other likeminded students from throughout Queensland.”

Townsville Grammar School principal Timothy Kelly said the school’s STEM program was very popular and a very strong academic vein of the school.

“Nearly 80 per cent of our senior students study at least one science, which is significant,” said Mr Kelly. “We offer four QCAA senior science subjects and three International Baccalaureate dedicated science subjects, and students in Year 10 can elect to study two science subjects in preparation for their ATAR studies.

“We find that the learning culture of the school motivates our students to explore the STEM subjects, and our offering in science is so extensive because of the high uptake.”

Mr Kelly said the school was relieved the program was able to go ahead despite the challenges presented by the pandemic.

“Our STEM teaching team is a highly experienced group of physicists, biologists, chemists and earth scientists who are specialists in their teaching area and dedicated to their students, supporting them in applying for these types of programs,” he said.

“Opportunities such as the Young Accelerators Program are incredibly valuable in extending STEM learning and gaining hands-on experience in QUT’S world-class facilities.

“Given the challenges COVID presented this year, this was certainly a highlight for our students, and we feel very grateful that the program was able to go ahead.”

For more highlights of the Young Accelerators Program visit https://youtu.be/xt2qrhrjvdq