MAD about innovation - BCE students engineer ‘real-world’ solutions this STEM MAD Showcase

9/09/2024

​Full image caption: STEM MAD Secondary STEM winners, Assisi Catholic College Upper Coomera, for their invention Canary. ©Brisbane Catholic Education (2024).

From preventing beach erosion and monitoring carbon dioxide levels in workplaces, Brisbane Catholic Education students have created new innovations as part of an education showcase for new ideas.  

The Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) students also produced projects to weatherproof Queensland homes and help families grow their own fruits and vegetables, mitigating the cost of groceries.  

The ideas were presented at BCE's fourth annual STEM ‘Make A Difference’ (MAD) Showcase at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre today (Monday 9 September). 

The STEM MAD Showcase is a celebration of student learning designed to acknowledge and promote STEM learning initiatives that address ‘real-world’ problems and demonstrate the values of Catholic Schools; encouraging students to ‘Make A Difference’ (MAD) in the world by acting for justice and the common good.   

The STEM MAD Showcase saw BCE students compete for the top prizes – Primary, Secondary, Future is STEM, People’s Choice, and the Executive Director Award.  

Winning projects from 100 plus school teams include:    

  • Primary STEM:  Guide Guru – St Thomas’ School Camp Hill 
  • Secondary STEM: Canary - Assisi Catholic College Upper Coomera 
  • Future is STEM Award:  Dcnstruct - Siena Catholic College Sippy Downs 
  • People's Choice Award(s): Micro Earth - St Ita’s Regional Primary School Dutton Park and The Crow Away – St Columba’s Primary School Wilston. 
  • Executive Director's Award: C.E.M.S. Accessibility Parking - St Francis Xavier Runaway Bay. 
 Assisi Catholic College Upper Coomera Year 11 student Joshua said his team's invention makes a difference by revolutionising workplace safety. 

“Our invention provides comprehensive health monitoring and environmental monitoring in one wearable device, with the aim to keep workers safe while on site,” he said. 

“From construction workers to emergency services, every industry can benefit. 

“The wearable device monitors 15 different metrics including heart rate and air quality, which is sent in real time to the employer. 

“I think we won the Secondary STEM award because we worked as a team to invent something innovative, that can help ‘real world’ people,’ and could save lives.” 

BCE Deputy Executive Director Durm O'Riordan said “With nearly 50 schools and nearly 100 student teams participating, this was BCE’s biggest Showcase yet”.  

"Every year, BCE challenges students to seek 'real-world' solutions for some of the Earth’s largest issues while also developing an understanding of local and global challenges,” he said.   

“This year’s competition is the largest BCE has held so far, highlighting an even greater commitment to innovation and excellence.  

“Our students think outside the box, from offering a solution for families to grow their own fruits and vegetables at home to developing innovations that address broader environmental and economic challenges.   

“Their creativity and problem-solving skills are not only impressive but also particularly timely and relevant, reflecting their ability to tackle pressing issues with impactful solutions.  

“Our students' inventions will not only impact the ‘real world’ but also showcase the ingenuity and creativity of BCE students in STEM.   

“These ground-breaking inventions deserve congratulations and highlight the exceptional talents within our schools.   

“I know this competition will inspire many of our students to pursue STEM careers and continue making a difference in our world."  

The Primary STEM, Secondary STEM, Future is STEM, Executive Director’s Award, and People’s Choice Award(s) winners, runners up, and third place recipients will be part of 30 selected teams to compete at STEM MAD National in Brisbane in November. The National competition will be hosted by BCE in 2024.      

For more information about the STEM MAD National competition click here. 

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People's Choice Award winner showcase 1, St Ita’s Regional Primary School Dutton Park for their invention Micro Earth. ​ ©Brisbane Catholic Education (2024).
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