Young minds opt to take up the Challenge at UQ

More than 630 school students will converge on The University of Queensland this weekend for the 2004 Commonwealth Bank Opti-MINDS Challenge.

Ninety teams from schools in 14 regions across Queensland were selected to participate in the state final, formerly known as Tournament of Minds (Qld) Inc, at the UQ Centre on Sunday, September 12 from 7.30am to 5.30pm.

For the first time the event will have participants from years 10 to 12 and tertiary students as well as its traditional six to 16 age range, making it the largest state final in the event’s 16 years of operation.

Opti-MINDS Director Fiona Meyer said the teams would use their analytical, creative and team-working skills to meet Challenges in the categories of Maths Engineering, Language Literature or Social Sciences.

“Opti-MINDS is proof of the hope and potential for the future of us all. It inspires through the practice and enactment of its principals,” Ms Meyer said.

Students will have three hours to prepare a solution to a Challenge, put the solution into a dramatic presentation and make their props and costumes. They will then present their solution to a panel of judges and a public audience.

Ms Meyer said the event wasn’t about competing; it was about the processes the students go through.

“Opti-MINDS is the process of change, optimising your thinking for optimal performance,” she said.

“It instils a proactive mindset of capability, responsibility, creativity, innovation, and excellence within participants.

“It encourages them to realise their own capacity and responsibility to make the difference for themselves.”

UQ’s Dean of Students Dr Lisa Gaffney said the University was committed to developing Australia’s knowledge resource base through events such as Opti-MINDS.

“These events play an important role in guiding the development of young high achievers,” Dr Gaffney said.

“This is a chance to see some of Queensland’s best young minds in action.

“Participants will be required to solve Challenges using imagination and creativity.”

Six teams will be selected to represent Queensland at a cultural exchange event in New Zealand later in the year.

For more information about Opti-MINDS please visit: www.opti-minds.com

Media: For more information or photos, contact Fiona Meyer (telephone 07 3356 4455, email: admin@opti-minds.com) or Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479, email: c.saxby@uq.edu.au).