Budding scientists of the future demonstrated their mastery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics at Keira High School’s annual STEM Tournament.
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About 200 year 5 students from Pleasant Heights, Balgownie, Fairy Meadow, Mount Ousley, Wollongong and Coniston Public Schools competed in a range of stimulating STEM challenges on Friday.
The event was designed and delivered by 30 year 11 students from Keira High School.
And pleasingly for the school’s science head teacher Michael Robson, a big proportion of these students were girls.
‘’There’s also a big proportion of girls in the core of our successful Science and Engineering Challenge team from last year,’’ he said.
‘’These same students are basically the drivers of this event, which for the first time included coding robots to move objects around obstacles or to create artworks.
‘’We are also using robots to simulate a scenario where they are involved in cleaning up an accident involving people and hazardous materials.’’
Mr Robson said seeing the year 11 girls do well in STEM courses would hopefully encourage more girls to participate
As part of an initiative to highlight the need for change and encourage young female students to consider STEM career pathways, several schools participated in a Young Change Agent workshop/competition called Social Change through STEM.
The event also hosted by Keira High School, so teams of stage 5 girls develop a pitch that would solve a global social issue utilising STEM and business principles.
On the final day, the teams had to present their ideas to a panel of judges.
The Corrimal High School team received the winning judgement for their Green Straw concept.
The initiative highlighted how STEM can be used to engage and make real changes.
The Corrimal High School team will now participate in a "thinktank" in the holidays and the second stage of the competition in September.