Photo: 2023 Flinders University STEM Academy participants
Flinders University has announced that a record number of Year 9 school girls will participate in its annual STEM Enrichment Academy workshops.
This influx of nearly 300 students results from a new scholarship scheme to engage more regional students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This initiative is part of Flinders University’s continued effort to engage more female students in these disciplines.
For the first time, the program will see students from remote regions, including Alice Springs and Darwin, travel to Adelaide to partake in the multi-day event. This has been made possible through substantial scholarships totalling $65,000, targeting South Australian and Northern Territory regional schools. The funding helps support the University’s Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship objective, which aims to introduce these students and their educators to vital in-demand career pathways.
The annual STEM conference, in its fifth year, will take place from June 18th to 21st, 2024.
STEM Enrichment Academy Director Professor Maria Parappilly’s primary goal is to expose Year 9 students to STEM-related education and career possibilities before they select subjects for the upper years of their Senior School education, providing a foundational understanding of what a future in these fields can offer.
Since the second phase of the outreach program began in May last year, 500 schoolgirls have already benefited. The target is to engage 1000 students by 2025.
This ambitious program highlights a critical need within the Australian educational landscape. According to current statistics, engineering has one of the lowest female representations in the STEM fields, with women making up approximately 16% of graduates and only 13% of the professional workforce in Australia.
Upon completion of the three day workshop in June, additional workshops will be held in August for students from various metropolitan schools, including St Dominic Priory School, will attend.
The sessions from 18-20 June will include 50 students from NT, 80 regional SA students, and 13 Indigenous students from both SA and NT.
Darwin Middle School teacher Prue Rathborne shared her excitement over this opportunity for her students:
“The 15 young women selected to attend the three-day workshop have been ecstatic about the life-changing opportunity that will facilitate their growth and development in STEM fields.”
This initiative is supported by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship grant scheme, reflecting a broader commitment to enhancing female participation in STEM at all educational levels.
With such programs gaining traction and attention, Flinders University continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the STEM landscape in Australia, fostering interest and participation among young women from diverse backgrounds.
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