Gifted Education Program News

CyberTAIPAN Update

CyberTaipan is an Australian Youth Cyber Defence Competition for teams of high school-aged students. It is an opportunity for students to take their first step into cyber security, try new challenges and gain experience in defensive techniques.

Each team competes in two online competition rounds by fixing vulnerabilities, hardening systems, and performing other tasks related to networking, cyber defence and cyber security. Each competition round challenges teams to complete as many of the tasks as they can within a six-hour window.

The ten highest-scoring teams, totalled across the two scored online rounds, are invited to compete in the live National Final – a virtual event to be held on Saturday 30 October 2021.

The results from the first two rounds are finalised and our three teams performed really well.

Our Year 9 team – (Team 209) Alex Apelt, Max Bathersby, Harrison Dyer, Harry Lee, Matthew Nisbett and Remy Versace, new to the program this semester, finished 51st from the 148 teams that entered. With some very experienced teams in the competition, this is a great result. 

Our two senior teams – (Team 058) Michael Gormley, Will Jennings, Aiden Ortiz, Liam Morris and Michael Nolan, and (Team 208) Zac Apelt, Ben Hartfiel, Will Johnson, Luke Nisbett and Dylan Soll finished 5th and 4th respectively, so both received invitations to compete in the National Final on Saturday. 

Good luck to both of our senior teams this Saturday. 

Brain Bee Challenge 2022

The Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) is a competition for high school students in year 10 to learn about the brain and its functions, learn about neuroscience research, find out about careers in neuroscience and to dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses.

The ABBC provides current and accurate information on the latest advances in neuroscience research, its value to the community, and promotes careers in science and technology.

There are 3 rounds to the Australian Brain Bee Challenge. Round 1, held in March, is an online multiple-choice quiz where students vie for a position in Round 2 – the State Final. Generally, pandemic permitting, state finalists spend a day at the Brain Institute at UQ, participating in the competition, touring the research labs, listening to key-note speakers, and talking to undergraduates about careers in Science and the opportunities available at UQ. Round 3 is then the National Final – we’re still looking for our first MCA representative at this level. 

Students are supported in their preparation for Round 1 with tutoring provided at the College. 

Anyone interested should contact Ms Stevens this year to register. Some pre-reading material is available for the holidays for those who are keen. 

Model UN

Model United Nations is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students play the role of delegates from different countries and attempt to solve real-world issues with the policies and perspectives of their assigned country. For example, a student may be assigned the United Kingdom and will have to solve global topics such as nuclear non-proliferation or climate change from the policies and perspectives of the United Kingdom or Argentina or Jordan. 

If you would like to participate, pair up with another student and contact Jaspar Driml 11S (22drimlj@marash.qld.edu.au). Let Jaspar know which country you’d like to represent. The Resolution to be discussed will be available on the Learning Portal by the weekend and emailed to you if you have registered. 

MUN is a great way to learn the art of diplomacy and the ways of the UN Security Council. It is about alliances with other countries and negotiation to further your country’s cause. 

Date: Thursday 4 November

Venue: Room 403

Time: 3:20pm – 4:30pm