First Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix event a roaring success

High school students from across Gladstone converged at the CQUniversity campus to participate in the first Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP) community meet up last week.

Along with sponsor representatives from the Department of State Development' Infrastructure' Local Government and Planning (DSDILGP)' Horizon Educational and Stanwell (among many others)' the 80-plus high schoolers from Years 7 to 11 were given the opportunity to showcase the progress they have made on their H2-powered remote control race cars.

"Since the beginning of Term 4' students have been working in teams of six to design the best H2-powered remote control race car they possibly can'" event organiser and Partner Up Queensland CQUniversity Regional Coordinator Dr Cal Devney said.

Twelve teams from seven Central Queensland schools are among the participating and the program will culminate with the inaugural Australian Horizon H2GP' a four-hour race at the Gladstone Entertainment and Convention Centre' on 21 April 2023.

"The Horizon H2GP is a school-based science and engineering program that provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to consider a career in Queensland's renewable technology sector'" Dr Devney said.

"Horizon H2GP fosters student learning about renewable energies' design technologies' engineering' problem-solving and teamwork."

Dr Devney said one of the event goals was to 'socialise hydrogen'.

"It is a shared goal of many of the people involved' including myself' to get the community conversations and awareness about the positive role that hydrogen can play in a decarbonised future' and the best place to start is at the dinner table with the family'" she said.

"One practical component of the H2GP is that the participating students and their peers will be talking about their projects and their sponsors with their families' which will start the conversations at the grassroots."

Dr Devney said the Schools and Sponsors Meet-Up was also an opportunity for the students and their coaches to connect with their sponsors and to see what the other Central Queensland-based teams were up to.

"It was great to see students sharing ideas across the schools and teams to heighten the experience and learning opportunities for all participants."

The Horizon H2GP has seen huge support from the Queensland State Government' local industry' Queensland-based businesses and local community organisations and government.

The Schools and Sponsors Meet-Up was sponsored by the Gladstone Engineering Alliance (GEA).