- Winners in nationwide plant science competition announced
- Future of plant science in good hands
- More than 5000 entries from more than 170 schools
More than 5,000 budding young plant scientists turned their minds to the importance of bees in the food supply chain as part of this year’s Hermitage Research Facility Plant Science Competition.
Prep to Year 12 students from 176 schools across Australia were part of this year’s competition, and winners were announced at a special event at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries Hermitage Research Facility today (August 15).
Competing in a range of categories, entrants experienced first-hand the important role bees play in the viability of agricultural and horticultural industries and in supporting our very survival on this planet.
Major science prizes for individuals were awarded to students from regions across the nation (see list of prize winners below).
The competition’s Art in Agriculture section saw students create incredible bee-themed artworks including pencil sketches, paintings, pottery, sewing and pictorial story books.
Students from Dodges Ferry Primary School in Tasmania won the top art prize of ‘Most Outstanding School’, with Warwick regional schools, Pilton State School and Glennie Heights State School receiving the runner-up and highly commended awards respectively for their beautiful creations.
A third component of the competition involved students from across the globe participating in a citizen science, biosecurity-themed adventure about the environment and the animals and organisms that invade plants.
The 2023 ‘Pest Invaders’ BioQuest attracted 33 teams with 6,068 sightings, 9,100 identifications and 1,564 species mapped, via a mobile gaming app. Player “The Owl Whisperer” from Miallo State School in far north Queensland was crowned the Overall BioQuest Champion.
The competition’s major sponsors include the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, QuestaGame, and the Grains Research and Development Corporation.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner:
“The science and art entries in this year’s competition were exceptional and gave great hope for the future of science and agriculture,” Mr Furner said.
“These aspiring young scientists have learned about the fascinating world of bees.
“Students were free to explore any area of interest in relation to bees or follow our pre-designed plant pollination experiment and submit a scientific report on their findings and research.
“It’s inspiring to see this level of enthusiasm for science and it bodes well for the future of our agricultural industries.”
