Optiminds is an annual school team problem solving challenge and Rotary are helping four Mount Isa team solve the problem of expensive flights to Brisbane to get there.

Rotary Club of Mount Isa South West’s Merilyn Harding said they were donating a total of $2000 to help four teams at the event from Spinifex State College and St Joseph’s Catholic School.

“This is something we’ve done previously and we want to keep it going,” Ms Harding said.

“We like to help local schools, to help these teams go away.”

A total of $500 will go to one team from Spinifex State College.

Spinifex teacher Vickie Reid said they had six Year 9 students entered into the science and engineering category.

“This will help with the cost of the flights,” she said.

Lisa McCulloch from St Joseph’s said they had three teams entering into Optiminds so they were the recipients of $500 each team from Rotary Club of Mount Isa South West.

“This has brought the cost down a fair bit,” Ms McCulloch said.

“They are Year 4 to Year 6 and we have one team in each category, one in science and engineering, one in social science, one in language literature.”

Optiminds will be taking place from October 14-15 at the University of Queensland in Brisbane.

Teams from four to seven are required to work together on a long term challenge for up to six weeks without assistance from anyone outside the team.

Participants are encouraged to explore possibilities and experiment with ideas as they endeavour to produce their best possible solution.

They work within predefined parameters such as limited materials, complex challenge criteria and the deadlines of the challenge day.

Students present the end result to a panel of judges and an audience on challenge day.

They have 10 minutes in which to present and must do so in a 3 x 3 metre performance area.