Showcasing STEM path to careers

Scitech brought a show called Beyond the Beaker to high schools across the South West, which was aimed at inspiring students to choose STEM subjects and careers.

The show introduces how science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects can be used in many different careers paths.

Scitech’s STEM careers coordinator Erin Kelly said she enjoyed travelling to the schools and showing the students some of these pathways.

“This show is really focused on introducing students to STEM and some of the new things which are happening right now in these fields,” she said.

“More importantly we want to get them thinking about their futures and show them how having STEM skills can be really important.”

She said 75 per cent of the fastest growing jobs in Australia were STEM related in one way or another and so getting students interested from a young age was becoming increasingly important.

“With this show we really have tried to include many different applications of STEM in careers,” she said.

“One of the activities we do is a texting competition to demonstrate they have been surrounded by technology their whole lives and getting into a career involving technology is nothing to be scared of.”

The Beyond the Beaker show also included using artificial intelligence through a Google program called Quick, Draw! and a discussion on a program called The Moral Machine, which gets students thinking about priorities and decision making.

The show toured many schools from Manjimup, Bridgetown, Pemberton, Northcliffe, Nannup and Boyup Brook.