High school leavers from across Australia will get a taste of university life at The University of Queensland’s (UQ) FEAST event this June.
Held from 30 June to 4 July at UQ Gatton, the Future Experiences in Agriculture, Science and Technology (FEAST) program offers Year 11 and 12 students a hands-on introduction to careers in agriculture, animal, plant, food and environmental sciences.
Georgia, who attended FEAST in 2024, said the program broadened her horizons and introduced her to new possibilities for her studies.
“Before coming to FEAST, I thought I wanted to study agribusiness, but now I’m sure I want to do agricultural science because it’s really diverse,” she said.
“You do field work, then you’re talking to farmers and then you do lab work – it's way more diverse than I thought it would be.
“FEAST has also impacted my plans by solidifying that I want to come to Gatton to study.”
Hear more about Georgia's FEAST experience
“Checking out the dorms and seeing what dorm life would be like [is important] because moving out of home is a big change.
“Everybody here has been really nice, so it makes moving out of home less scary.
“Being independent isn’t as scary when you’ve made tonnes of new friends.
“I think everybody – if they have the opportunity – should come to FEAST – it's a really good experience.”
Reece, another 2024 participant, agreed that FEAST had a big impact on his plans after school.
“FEAST showed the freedom you get at UQ and university,” he said.
“You get a lot more choice in what you do and everyone is passionate about the subjects.”
The chance to get hands-on with UQ Gatton’s labs and technology was a standout for Reece.
“My favourite part of the FEAST experience was the anatomy work in the lab,” he said.
“It was good to get a good feel for the structures of the animals you might work with in [veterinary science].”
Hear more about Reece's FEAST experience
“The most impactful part about the FEAST experience is seeing all the lecturers really care about the subjects they’re teaching,” Reece said.
“They really care about how well you do and how well you learn.
“Everyone’s really connected as well – it's a tight-knit community with all the resident halls [around campus].
“It’s a really good experience.”
Registrations for FEAST are now open. Students, parents and teachers are encouraged to apply now.
Find out more at science.uq.edu.au/event/feast
