A group of Year 10 and 11 Geography students embarked on an academic adventure to The University of Queensland’s School of the Environment. The program, designed to align with the Australian Geography curriculum, offered 10 Ormiston College students an opportunity to engage with hands-on practicals to explore the powerful ways in which Geography helps us to make sense of the world.
Led by Dr Gurion Ang, the day commenced with a thought-provoking keynote lecture by Associate Professor Thomas Sigler titled Megacities: Too Big to Fail?. Students explored the demographic and historical trajectories of global megacities, questioning whether these urban giants have reached their upper limits and what that means for the future of the global population.
The learning continued with LEGO Serious Play, where students constructed their own megacity, complete with a seawall, and competed to out-engineer their peers in a spirited display of creativity and strategic thinking.
Tsunami expert Dr Annie Lau, guided students in interpreting environmental history through sediment grains and microfossils.
In another session, Dr Daniel Harris invited students to take on the role of coastal managers, simulating wave impacts and testing coastal protection strategies.
Professor Stuart Phinn led a workshop on the use of satellite data in disaster prediction and recovery which saw students using remote sensing and satellite imagery to predict and mitigate coastal and bushfire disasters.
The day concluded with a lively scavenger hunt full of laughs, challenges, and Geography fun.
The event not only deepened students’ understanding of geographical processes but also showcased the discipline’s relevance in addressing real-world challenges from urbanisation and climate resilience to disaster preparedness.
