Teams of top young mathematicians from Fraser Coast and Sunshine Coast will go head-to-head this week in a space-themed grand final challenge at USC.

After a round of regional events, teams from six high schools have made it through to the grand finale of USC’s Maths Modelling Challenge to be held on Wednesday 14 August during National Science Week.

Working in small groups, the Year 9 and 10 students will tackle a complex, open-ended mathematical problem based on this year’s National Science Week theme ‘Destination Moon: More Missions, More Science’.

The regional finalists are Fraser Coast Anglican College, Urangan State High School, Chancellor State College, Nambour Christian College, Pacific Lutheran College and Sunshine Coast Grammar School.

Guided by a USC mathematician or statistician, the students will use modelling to solve the problem before presenting their solutions and a poster to judges, teachers, USC academics and other students.

Last month, about 200 Year 9 and 10 maths enthusiasts competed in regional rounds held across three days at USC’s campuses at the Sunshine Coast, Hervey Bay and Caboolture.

Marina Fitzpatrick from USC’s School of Science and Engineering said the University initiated the challenge as a way of inspiring students to see maths as a fun, exciting way to solve real-world scenarios.