Plant science competition for Australian school students

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has officially opened the 2015 Hermitage Research Facility Schools Plant Science Competition - an annual event that aims to stimulate an interest in agriculture and science in young Australians.

Each year, the competition offers engaging ways for students to gain understanding and skills in key areas identified within the Australian science curriculum. This year’s competition will focus on photosynthesis, with the theme of ‘No light…no life!’

Competition organiser Kerrie Rubie said the competition allows “students from years prep to 12 to undertake a series of hands-on experiments in the classroom to learn more about plant and agricultural science”. In 2015, students will be having fun with photosynthesis by growing and performing experiments on various crop and vegetable plants.

“Participating students will be able to see for themselves how plants defy gravity in their search for light and react to different light wavelengths,” she said.

“This year’s theme will also help students understand that everything we eat comes from plants and teach them the valuable lesson that with no light, there’s no life.”

The competition is open to classes, teams and individual students from all over Australia. Its activities link to the Australian school curriculum, noted Rubie, “making it easy for teachers to incorporate into their students’ learning program”.

Rubie added that the competition even includes an artistic component in its AgRiculTure Awards section, where students can “enter a 3D model, drawing or landscape photograph depicting plants with bright, colourful leaves catching sunlight”. Some of this artwork will be showcased at the ‘Jumpers and Jazz in July’ festival.

Competition prizes include $1000 towards resources for tertiary education, a 12-month subscription to a science journal worth $500, a $250 gift voucher to purchase educational/scientific materials, a TASTE (rural camp) Scholarship valued at $495, a cheque prize valued at $150 plus a range of medallions, trophies, science/educational prizes, art materials and certificates. Winners may also be eligible to enter their photosynthesis project in their relevant state Science Teachers Association Science Contests and the national BHP Billiton Science Awards.

Entries close on 26 June and prizes are awarded at the annual awards day held at Hermitage Research Facility in August. For more information or to register your interest, visit https://www.daff.qld.gov.au/plants/field-crops-and-pastures/research/hermitage-competition.