Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge — Gladstone Region
7 May –20 June 2024
WINNERS ANNOUNCED BELOW
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Gladstone Region |
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| Free |
Email futuremakers@qm.qld.gov.au to express your interest in the 2025 challenge
The 2024 Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge — Gladstone Region, was open to Years 5 to 10 students the Gladstone region.
The aim of this design challenge is for students to create a comprehensive, well-communicated invention concept. Students are encouraged to use research, technology and software to create a detailed drawing and/or prototype which can demonstrate some of the capabilities of the proposed complete invention.
Starting with a launch workshop in Gladstone on 22 May, students worked in teams to identify a challenge faced by young people in their community. They were guided by Queensland Museum facilitators to design a creative, STEM-based solution. At the workshop, students participated in a range of idea-stimulating activities and learned robotics coding using Micromelon and Picoh robots.
Following the workshop, students refined their inventive designs through regular online consultations with expert STEM Mentors from Queensland Museum, Shell's QGC business and more.
PRIZES
- All students received a certificate
- Winners received a trophy, certificate and large STEM prize pack
- Highly Commended students received a certificate and small STEM prize pack
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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