As a new approach to this year’s National Science Week's ‘Deep Blue’ theme, Cross River Rail is encouraging you, not only to think about what’s in our oceans and rivers, but also, the future of travelling underneath them.

We have created two 90 minute online classes ready for you to dive into The Science of Tunnelling. You will have the opportunity to explore the complex and interesting science that exists in the design and construction of Cross River Rail.

Topic 1 - Digging a Tunnel Underneath Brisbane
Wednesday 19th of August, 4pm to 5.30pm
Participants are challenged with learning all about the science of constructing Cross River Rail, and specifically the civil engineering behind tunnelling underneath Brisbane and the river.

Topic 2 - The History of Tunnelling
Thursday 20th of August, 4pm to 5.30pm
Participants are challenged with learning about how building tunnels has changed over the years. The machinery involved in tunnelling and society’s understanding of engineering has come a long way since civilisation’s first tunnels.

Can't join us?
Download the free workbooks or come along to explore the Cross River Rail Experience Centre.

Want to know more?
Cross River Rail is a 10.2km rail line from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills, including a 5.9km twin tunnel below the Brisbane River and CBD. The project also includes construction of four new underground stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street. Not only will Cross River Rail allow more trains to run more often to, from and through Brisbane, this underground rail project will transform forever the way we travel across the whole of South East Queensland.

Certainly, there is nothing simple about the construction of a human-made tunnel. It’s a process of problem solving and discovery considered to be one of the most complex civil engineering challenges to solve. Ground that has not been touched for hundreds or even millions of years needs to be excavated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Is This Program For?
This program is designed for school students ages 8-12 years old with a maximum of 20 students per session.

When Does The Program Run?
Individual sessions are running 19th and 20th of August. Students can participate in either or both sessions. Each session will run from 4:00pm - 5:30pm.

Where Will The Program Be Held?
The program will be taking place online. Ahead of the event you will be receiving an email letting you know how to join the class and outline the tools we will be using.

What Will Students Need?
We ask that students participate in these online classes with access to a laptop and the 'Google Chrome' web browser for an optimised experience. We will be using two other free websites throughout the program to work on our ideas, and we ask that students have a pair of headphones with a microphone. For our class, we will be using Zoom.

Do Students Need Any Prior Experience?
Students don't need any prior experience for this program. We will be able to cater to different skill levels and interest areas. We just ask that students are excited and willing to participate.

If You Have Any Other Questions, Please Don't Hesitate To Contact The BOP Team At info@bopindustries.com.