Fifteen-year-old Mackay student Nikki Roestenburg, pictured, likes finding out how things work.
The Year 10 Pioneer State High School academic medallion holder likes observing scientific experiments, challenging herself in maths, science and computing tests.
So it's a natural next step for the former Andergrove State School dux to prepare herself for university studies as an inaugural Year 11 student at the new Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology at Toowong.
Nikki is among the elite and talented state and non-state school students who have been offered places at two new government schools of excellence opening in Brisbane next year — the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology and the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries at Kelvin Grove.
And where might Nikki's new road take her? Chemical engineering perhaps, or maybe medicine minus the bloody bits: "I am considering something like medical law. I really like the idea of doing medicine but I don't really like the idea of cutting things open," she says.
Year 9 student Patrick Sweeney of Brisbane's Gregory Terrace will join the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries with his sights set on study at an overseas university and a career as a comedy writer.
The French and history specialist says that while he will miss his Gregory Terrace friends, the opportunity to be a part of Creative Industries Academy is too good to pass up.
In addition to the two academies opening in 2007, another Queensland Academy is being planned for the Gold Coast in 2008.
In a partnership with Griffith University, the academy will allow some of the state's brightest students to undertake studies focused on health, allied services and sciences from Year 10 onwards.
Year 10 and 11 students will enter the academies at Toowong and Kelvin Grove next year, with Year 12 students joining them in 2008.
The academies will offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, a challenging, widely recognised two-year curriculum that prepares 16 to 19-year-old students for university.
The Science, Mathematics and Technology academy links with The University of Queensland, while the Creative Industries academy links with the Queensland University of Technology.
Griffith University is working with both academies to offer students opportunities within specialist programs.
A challenging student selection process included an entrance test, an interview, and a portfolio or audition for creative industries applicants.
Inquiries: www.qldacademies.eq.edu.au
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