Hermitage Schools Plant Science Competition
The department's Hermitage Research Facility (HRF) Schools Plant Science Competition (SPSC) offers engaging ways for students to gain understanding and skills in key areas identified within the Australian science curriculum. Encouraging the next generation of people who will be involved in agricultural/science careers is crucial to how we will face the future and is a key purpose of the competition.
The theme for the 2023 HRF Schools Plant Science Competition is 'The Buzz About Bees'.
Entries in our competition are also eligible for entry in state or territory Science Teachers Association Science Contests (for Queenslanders, the STAQ Science Contest).
In 2023, we will again join forces with QuestaGame to provide students with further opportunities to engage in real-world science. Through QuestaGame’s outdoor mobile gaming app, students' insect, weed, plant disease and animal pest sightings are shared with CSIRO’s Atlas of Living Australia and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility – the world’s premier collection of biodiversity records. Student involvement also helps researchers understand how we can better manage and protect biodiversity in a changing world. This is citizen science at its best!
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Competition details
Learn more about the current 2023 Hermitage Research Facility's schools plant science competition.
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Enter the competition
Register now for the 2023 competition.
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Prizes, winners and awards day
Learn more about the prizes, winners and awards day.
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Competition background
Learn more about the background of Hermitage Research Facility's schools plant science competition.
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QuestaGame’s ‘Pest Invaders’ Bio Quest (a section of the Hermitage Schools Plant Science Competition)
Register your team and learn about the QuestaGame Pest Invaders BioQuest, a mobile gaming app that opens your eyes to the various organisms that invade our plants. This is citizen science at its best!
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STAQ Science Contest (Queensland students only)
The Queensland Science Contest is an opportunity for Queensland students to have their scientific work judged for awards and prizes. Enter your Hermitage plant science project in this contest as well!
Gold sponsors
- Queensland Government‒Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
- QuestaGame
- Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
Silver sponsors
- The Paul Johnston Memorial Trust
- The Crawford Fund
- Primary Industries Education Foundation
- Grains Research Foundation Limited
- Flow
- University of Southern Queensland
Bronze sponsors
- Warwick Art Gallery
- Ag Institute of Australia
- Selected Seeds
- Queensland University of Technology
- John and Chris Purdie