Tasmania leads the way in STEM strategy to address Australian skills shortage

TasWater, the University of Tasmania through the School of Engineering and ICT
and Greening Australia Tasmania, have joined forces to encourage Tasmanian high
school students to consider a future in Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM).

Australia is currently facing a STEM skills shortage, with figures showing the
proportion of year 12 students taking physics, chemistry and biology has dropped by
a third in the past ten years.

TasWater CEO Michael Brewster said the Water Warriors STEM Education Pilot
Program was designed, developed and delivered through the work of the partnership
and run over a four week period, focussing on water filtration, purification, recycling,
testing and treating.

“We all use water every day and it’s essential for our existence,” Mr Brewster said.
“This innovative pilot program not only challenges perceptions around careers in
science and engineering, but also educates students in a fun and interactive manner
about water fundamentals, storage, testing and transportation.

“Two grade seven classes from Ogilvie High School and The Hutchins School are
currently undertaking the program and we look forward to the outcomes on
completion of this pilot.”

University of Tasmania Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students and Education), Professor
David Sadler, said the creation of the new educational program and the resulting
partnership was a welcome initiative.

“Like the water on which this program focuses, our young people are one of our most
precious resources. I commend the work of our Engineering and ICT staff in the
creation of the program’s innovative content,” Professor Sadler said.

“We hope this worthy educational resource will foster in the young participants an
interest in science that endures into the future, along with the knowledge that
studying engineering and science has a number of exciting career possibilities.”

Greening Australia Director of Conservation – Tasmania, Sebastian Burgess, said
the organisation was proud of the innovative partnerships developed as well as the
opportunity to integrate sustainability education into the Australian curriculum.

“We are also pleased to be able to host these hands-on interactive sessions at our
state-of-the-art Sustainability Learning Centre based in Mount Nelson,” Mr Burgess
said.

University of Tasmania, School of Engineering and ICT, Dr Bernardo León de la
Barra, said he hoped the program would help highlight the important work of
scientists and engineers in our society.

“Through this and similar programs, we aim to bring about real and permanent
improvements to the ways Tasmanians experience the STEM fields,” Dr León de la
Barra said.

“We have strong long-term interests in playing a central role in increasing the number
of girls and students from low socioeconomic areas, as well as regional and rural
communities who are well equipped to take up STEM studies and careers.

“If Australia is to reach (and maintain) a leadership role in innovation worldwide, we
must broaden the pipeline by encouraging young learners to apply critical thinking to
engineering and technical fields as well as to every other industry.”
TasWater CEO Michael Brewster