AIMS Supports STEM Students at Moranbah QLD

Moranbah Students 180AIMS held it’s 2018 Moranbah Interactive Day and Candidates Session in mid-May at the Moranbah Community Centre in Queensland.

Long-term AIMS Member and past president Mick Harris acted as coordinator for the event.

Mick envisaged the day as a great opportunity to include the next generation of potential mine surveyors and decided to invite local High School students to attend at no cost. The event at Moranbah was a great success with a total of 55 attendees, even including six registered surveyors who decided to make the trip from NSW.

But it was the attendance of the school students that really made this event unique.

16 young students of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) from both Moranbah and Clermont State High Schools (plus their teachers and parents) attended the interactive day and discovered first-hand the interesting and sometimes complicated technological developments that are part of this fast-moving industry.

“After some thought and a strong wish to do something tangible and immediate to immerse STEM students in the spatial sciences field, we arranged with local schools to allow students to attend the AIMS Regional Technology Day in Moranbah”, said Mr. Harris.

“Careers advisors from the local schools were really enthusiastic and are now considering their options in offering certificates in Survey”, he added.

The day was very well received and the feedback from the relevant schools were also very positive. Through this initiative AIMS has been able to successfully showcase the unique profession of mining surveying to young students who are currently contemplating their future career options.

 

“Through this initiative AIMS has been able to successfully showcase the unique profession of mining surveying to young students who are currently contemplating their future career options”

Interactions consisted of rotating workshops involving the latest technology, where groups spent 40 minutes in interactive and Q&A workshops. The students also had the opportunity to meet and network with current surveyors, allowing them to gain an insight into the specific tools and methods used in the field of mine surveying.

AIMS major supporters C.R. Kennedy, the largest national importer and distributor of surveying equipment in Australia, provided a showcase of equipment including the LEICA GS18T, described as “the world’s fastest GNSS RTK rover”.

Position Partners, another AIMS sponsor, described how wireless systems can be installed standalone or complimentary to existing monitoring solutions and discussed case studies including open cut slope stability, tailings dam and wind turbine foundation monitoring.

Other supporting companies such as AAM, UPG, Aerial Acquisitions, Atlass-Aerometrex, Carlson and Maptek were also on hand to provide demonstrations and a deeper understanding of issues faced by mine surveyors and the cutting edge tools and solutions available.

These presentations acted as a preview and insight into the upcoming 2018 National Conference in September this year in Townsville which will feature a broad cross-section of technology and demonstrations. Registrations are now open for this major event in the AIMS calendar year and full details are available at www.aimsconference.com.au

Meanwhile, feedback from schools and the attending delegates of the regional Moranbah event was 100% positive and word of this initiative is spreading. Destination Spatial Queensland (DSQ), an industry initiative promoting surveying and geospatial science, offered support to AIMS upon hearing about the interactive day.

“It is proactive methods such as these that really help promote the surveying profession to students, teachers and career advisors,“ said a spokesperson for the DSQ Executive. “It has raised a lot of interest with the DSQ Executive and they are keen to explore further options to host similar days at targeted regional areas.”

“DSQ are currently considering initiatives to promote surveying and geospatial careers, including student competitions and participation at various career events”.

Mick Harris agreed. “Maybe the various institutes could also look to run these types of events and invite students from local schools. In addition to the traditional seminars and conferences held by AIMS, this interactive model is now a regular feature at Mt Isa, Mudgee and Moranbah”.

“It was great to do something tangible and proactive to promote Mine Surveying to students.”

Mrs Rebecca Huggett, Senior Schooling Head of Department at Moranbah State High School, was very appreciative of the initiative.

“After speaking to the teacher and students who attended the day, all have said it was very informative, even though some of the technical terms had them scratching their heads at times. A few are considering surveying as an area to go into so I know it was very valuable for them”, said Mrs Huggett.

“A few business cards have been brought back to make contact with people interested in bringing drones out to our school to demonstrate for us which would be awesome!”.

AIMS is very proud to be leading the way in educating and informing the next generation of potential spatial professionals.

Moranbah Students

STEM students from local high schools taking a break at the AIMS 2018 Moranbah Interactive Day


 

MORE IMAGES FROM THE 2018 MORANBAH INTERACTIVE DAY & CANDIDATES SESSION - MAY 2018

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