Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge — Western Downs Region

The 2025 Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge — Western Downs Region, is open to Years 5 to 10 students the Western Downs Region (Local Government Area map). Participation is free.

Download the brochure
Download the Teacher Manual

Working in groups of 2–4, students in Years 5–10 will have 10 weeks (including school holidays) to generate, define, design, refine and produce an Epic Engineering prototype and mini exhibit, to submit to a panel of judges at World Science Festival Queensland in Chinchilla.

Through the program, they will explore amazing engineering feats which have changed the local community and the world. Students will then work in 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 1 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 Chinchilla, 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.

WHAT’S INCLUDED?

• 10 Weeks of hands-on activities (including school holidays). Activities are curriculum-aligned to Years 5-10 Technologies with links to Science and HASS, and highlighting Queensland Museum stories, research and collections
• Student activity booklet for each participating student
• A tri-fold tabletop display board will be supplied to each student team
• Teaching manual with curriculum links and criteria sheet
• Mentorship opportunities with Queensland engineers, designers and scientists
• Exclusive showcase space for each student team at World Science Festival Queensland. Winners will be announced on stage
• All participating teachers will be invited to the World Science Festival Queensland V.I.P event

PRIZES:

• The school with the winning student team will receive $1,000 cash prize and Queensland Museum publications
• Winning students will each receive a trophy, certificate and large STEM prize packs as well as an invitation to the World Science Festival Queensland V.I.P event
• The school with the Highly Commended team will receive a $500 voucher to the QM shop 
• The school/s with Commended student teams will receive a $150 voucher to the QM shop  
• Highly Commended and Commended students will each receive certificates and small STEM prize packs
• All participating students will receive a certificate

KEY DATES

• Online launch webinar: Term 1, Week 10 | Monday 31 March–Friday 4 April (TBA)
• Students to work on design and prototype + consult mentors: Term 2, Week 1–7
• Present submissions + winners announced: Term 2, Week 7 |  Friday 6 June at World Science Festival Queensland in Chinchilla (at Chinchilla State School)
   

For enquiries, email futuremakers@qm.qld.gov.au.

Future Makers is a partnership between Queensland Museum and Shell's QGC business