High school students from around the world have put their engineering skills to test in the skies over southeast Queensland.

They designed, built and operated their own drones in a competition aimed at proving that engineering needn’t be boring.

Madison Clarke reports.

TRANSCRIPT

It’s not your everyday science class.

Students from as far away as California have spent months working on their drones.

They’re pitting their aeronautical skills against each other, using remote controlled aircraft to find a lost person and drop off medical supplies.

Harry Young, Calamvale Eagles: “We got together as a team and sat down putting our ideas forth on the board like trying to decide what we wanna do.”

The competition was intense, with over 19 teams in a dogfight for the prize money.

One of the local schools, Calamvale College was among the favourites.

Harry Young, Calamvale Eagles: “I’ve just always had a thing for aircrafts and planes like I’ve just, ever since I came to Calamvale and saw the subject I was just hooked.”

Professor John Roberts, QUT Roboticist: “We really hoped that new technology would come out of this event and it has.”

The competition aims to boost interest numbers in the field of science and engineering.

It presents students with a range of learning opportunities for future studies.

It’s clear that some of these aspiring engineers don’t need convincing.

Andrea Samona, California Knight Hawks: “A trip to Australia was really like interesting to us and we really wanted to fly drones and we’re excited.”

Overall, the goal was achieved proving that engineering and science, can be fun.

Madison Clarke, QUT News.