Flinders University has launched new high-tech laboratories and celebrated a milestone, with more than 1200 Year 9 girls taking part in its STEM enrichment workshops.
More than 100 high school students – all Year 9 girls from six metro and country high schools – were part of the official opening of South Australia’s newest chemistry and physics labs, after an investment by Flinders University at its Bedford Park campus.
Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia, officially unveiled a plaque to open the modern new 761 square metre labs.
Flinders Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling joined Professor Alistair Rendell and other staff from the College of Science and Engineering to host the Governor and her husband, former physics teacher Rod Bunten, on a tour of the new wet and dry labs.
“In recent years, hundreds of Year 9 girls have now benefited from our special STEM Enrichment Academy program, with the latest phase building the skills of more than 1200 students, as well as their teachers via our targeted professional development courses,” says Professor of Physics Maria Parappilly, who leads the program.
“It is exciting to see many of our STEM Enrichment Academy visitors pursue physics, chemistry and science in senior secondary and then at university, so their career prospects are strong and often in high-paying fields.
“This extensive $7 million redevelopment will benefit all of our first-year university students, bringing to life many of the practical and fundamental parts of science to inspire them.”
They addressed the latest group of high school students – from Mary MacKillop College, Marryatville and Christies Beach high schools, Harvest Christian College at Kadina and Sacred Heart College and Westminster School.
Including the first phase of the STEM Enrichment Academy program, more than 1600 Year 9 students from SA and other states and territories have had intensive hands-on experience with science topics at Flinders University.
Professor Rendell says the opening of new facilities at Bedford Park, as well as Flinders University’s Tonsley and city campuses, will help meet industry demand for engineers, scientists in many fields, and professionals well trained in mathematics and technology.
The lab launch is part of the celebration of this month’s UN-declared International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Her Excellency is a Fellow of both the Institute of Public Administration of Australia and the Australian Institute of International Affairs. She holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Adelaide and the Australian National University. Mr Bunten is a former diplomat and secondary physics and math teacher.
The next STEM Enrichment Academy days at Flinders University are scheduled for 7 March (to help support International Women’s Day) and 4 April.
Also his year, Phase II of the federally funded (Department of Industry, Science and Resources) Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WiSE) grant program, the Flinders University STEM Enrichment Academy is offering a Physics Skills Enhancement Microcredential Course for 35 school teachers, with registrations so far from NSW, SA and the Northern Territory.