Cynthia Lui MP
Member for Cook
MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday Island and Cooktown students are working to improve the health of the Torres Strait, with three local schools securing backing from the Palaszczuk Government.
The schools – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School, Tagai State College and Cooktown State School – feature in the latest round of Engaging Science Grants recipients, having received funding through the more than half-a-billion-dollar Advance Queensland initiative.
Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said the projects will have a significant positive impact on the local environment and the marine life that make the Torres Strait their home.
“Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School will use their $7,100 grant to work with scientists and wildlife rangers to develop a marine debris reduction plan,” Ms Lui said.
“Meanwhile, Tagai State College received $8,880 for an inter-tidal seagrass monitoring project, which they carried out in August, and Cooktown State School received $6,900 to conduct a Great Barrier Reef patrol and hold public educational sessions during National Science Week (11-19 August).”
“The value of these schools’ efforts can’t be understated, with the end result being a greater understanding and appreciation of our unique local ecosystem among the region’s young people.
“And what this means is less rubbish in our waters, and stronger efforts to protect habitat and food sources for turtles, dugongs, fish, birds, and many other animals.”
Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science Leeanne Enoch said, “It’s exciting to see science and innovation driving conservation and increasing the passion our schoolchildren have for the environment.
“This will also ensure more young Queenslanders pursue a career in STEM, which is a major focus of our Engaging Science Grants program.”
Fifteen Queensland education institutes and community organisations have shared in the third round of Engaging Science Grants for 2017-18, with investment totalling $135,307.
The Advance Queensland Engaging Science Grants program has awarded $1,066,780 to 113 recipients over the six rounds to date.
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