Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge — Gladstone Region
23 June –29 August 2025
REGISTRATIONS OPEN NOW
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Gladstone Region |
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| Free |
The 2025 Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge — Gladstone Region, is open to Years 5 to 10 students the Gladstone region. Participation is free.
The aim of this design challenge is for student teams to create a comprehensive, well-communicated invention concept to solve real-world problems.
Students are encouraged to think big and use creativity, research and technology to make a basic prototype which demonstrates some of the capabilities or design aspects of the proposed complete invention.
Starting with an online launch webinar in Term 2 Week 10, Queensland Museum facilitators will announce the specific details of the challenge, provide guidance on key criteria and showcase inspiring real inventions.
Teachers will be given high quality resources and activities to assist students throughout the design and communication process. Schools will have the option to schedule mentorship sessions with STEM industry experts to help refine their ideas.
The final submission will be at World Science Festival Queensland in Gladstone, where students will display their prototype as a mini museum exhibition. Students will be required to explain and demonstrate how their invention works and meets the criteria. Prizes, trophies and certificates will be publicly presented to the winners on the festival main stage.
PRIZES
- The winning school will receive a prize (TBA)
- All students will receive a certificate
- Winners will receive a trophy, certificate and large Queensland Museum STEM prize pack
- Highly Commended and Commended entries will receive Certificates and small prize packs
KEY DATES
- Online launch webinar: Term 2, Week 10 (TBA)
- Students to work on design and prototype + consult mentors: Term 3, Week 1–7
- Present submissions + winners announced: Term 3, Week 7 (Friday 29 August) at World Science Festival Queensland in Gladstone
PLEASE NOTE: Only 1 expression of interest is required per teacher. You will be asked to specify student numbers.
Detailed challenge information will be released soon. For enquiries, email futuremakers@qm.qld.gov.au.
Future Makers is a partnership between Queensland Museum and Shell's QGC business.
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Winners of the Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge — Gladstone Region
Emily and Annabelle designed their solar-powered robot "Little Rooty" to move through areas infested with the dry rats tail grass — a weed with a fast-spreading seed that kills native plants, impacting local biodiversity. To stop the weed's disastrous spread, the robot design includes technology to identify and seek out the plant. Aided by a lifting mechanism, a rake-like arm and a sharp scissors attachment, the robot would first cut and contain the sticky seeds in an internal box-like chamber, and then scoop up and and contain the entire plant. All collected plant matter would be destroyed in the chamber using microwaves and compacted to save space.
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