2024 Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge | Western Downs

Register your students now for the 2024 Future Makers STEM Inventors Challenge!

Taking place in Term 3, Weeks 3 - 10, the STEM Inventors Challenge is open to Years 5 to 10 students from schools in the Western Downs region. Students will identify a challenge faced by young people in their community and design a STEM-based solution using innovative technologies. The challenge aims to empower students to recognise ways they can find solutions to challenges that directly impact them.

Students will work in teams to identify a challenge faced by youth in their community, design their solution, participate in an official launch workshop in Chinchilla and meet virtually with STEM mentors throughout the process.

Entries will be judged by a panel of representatives from Queensland Museum, Shell's QGC business and the local community. Winners will be filmed to showcase their STEM solution, and will be on display during World Science Festival Queensland.

Download students preparation booklet for the Community Creators launch workshop

 

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Challenge timeline

Term 3 Week 3
Week starting 22 July — Live Digital Engagement Introduction Session

Term 3 Week 5
6 August — Community Creators (Launch workshop)
Chinchilla venue TBA

Term 3 Weeks 6–9
12 August–6 September — STEM Mentor Online Consultations

Term 3 Week 10
Week starting 9 September — Online Sharing Sessions

Early October, Term 4
Date TBA — Winners announced

October, Term 4
Date and venue TBA— Celebration 

Curriculum Links

The STEM Inventors Challenge links directly to the Design and Technology curriculum for years 7 to 10. Judging criteria and steps along the design-thinking process are curriculum-based and we also provide criteria if you would like to use the challenge as part of your classroom assessment. There are also a number of curriculum links to Digital Technologies. Full curriculum links are provided in the teacher booklets.

What you will receive

The Future Makers team want to make the STEM Inventors Challenge as straightforward and rewarding as possible for everyone involved. As a participant in the challenge you will receive:
Teacher and Student Preparation Booklets (downloadable or we can also post a class set to your school), including:

• Activities to form a strength-based team
• Videos and activities around the design-thinking process
• Activities to identify challenges in your local community and collect data to support these
• Preparation for the in-person Community Creators Day on 6 August

Community Creators Launch Day

• In-person on 6 August 2024 at the Chinchilla (venue TBA) 
• All materials and catering provided
• Students will work through activities to explore STEM-based solutions to community problems in general, and commence work on their own solutions
• Students will also explore innovative technologies and ways to display their solutions 
• Teacher and Student Design Brief Booklets
• Activities to work through on the Community Creators Day and throughout Weeks 6 - 9
• Links to Queensland Museum research, objects and historical designs
• Project planning templates and resources

Online STEM Mentors

• Each student group will be connected with an online STEM mentor to provide advice and support as they work through their design process during Weeks 6 - 9 

Celebration

• Winning entries will be displayed in Chinchilla, October 2024 (date and venue TBA)
• The winners will also receive a trophy and feature in STEM Inventors Videos
• All participants will be invited to a celebration event during World Science Festival Queensland

To register your students' interest, please complete the expression of interest form by clicking the 'Register' button at the top of the page. Only 1 ticket is required for each class.