The University of Queensland will host the State final of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Minds, an annual event which this year has attracted a record 647 schools.
More than 12,000 Queensland school students will participate in Tournament of Minds, a nationally-based program aimed at developing the ingenuity and team work of students aged six to 16 (Years 1 to 10).
More than 650 facilitators and 900-1000 judges will be involved in the event, which is expected to attract 25,000 supporters.
Teams of seven students will work together according to specific criteria and time-frame to solve problems in the categories of maths engineering, language literature, or social sciences. Students are then judged on their team skills, divergent thinking, performance and creativity in solving problems.
Winners from each category in 13 regional Tournaments will vie for the opportunity to represent Queensland at the State finals at the University of Queensland's St Lucia campus, Brisbane, on Sunday, September 13. State teams from each category will then contest the Australian finals at Australian National University, Canberra on Saturday, October 24.
University of Queensland Vice-Chancellor Professor Hay said the University was pleased to host the State final for the fourth time, and to have the opportunity to see some of Queensland's best young minds in action.
The University, which hosted the national final last year, would also sponsor the maths engineering problem.
'There is no doubt in my mind that the present generation is exceptionally outstanding and gifted,' he said. 'The solution to every problem involves using the challenge of imagination and creativity.'
Tournament of Minds (Qld) Incorporated State director Fiona Meyer said it was encouraging that an increasing number of schools was entering the event, despite the existence of so many other programs for teachers and students.
'Tournament of Minds has grown each year since its inception in Queensland in 1989,' she said.
Regional Tournament venues for 1998:
Saturday, August 22: Indooroopilly State High School, Runcorn State High School, Elanora State High School (Gold Coast), Woree State High School (Cairns), Kepnock State High School (Bundaberg), Glenmore State High School (Rockhampton), Whitsunday Anglican School (Mackay), Thuringowa State High School (Townsville), Burnside State High School (Sunshine Coast), Mt Isa Catholic High School, Roma Middle School.
Sunday, August 23: St Paul's School (Bald Hills), Harristown State High School (Toowoomba).
Media: For further information, contact Professor Hay (telephone 07 3365 1300) or Ms Meyer (telephone 07 3217 5141).
