High schools participating in QUT's annual Power of Engineering, which gives female students from years 9 and 10 hands-on experience of solving real-world engineering challenges, has helped increase the number of students taking senior STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
QUT Power of Engineering coordinator Simone Long said a survey of schools whose students had participated in the event, held each year to coincide with International Women's Day, showed the day was prompting more young women to consider a career in engineering.
"Schools have reported significant increases in students taking these subjects which form the foundations for engineering," Ms Long said.
"For example, Lourdes Hill said their Year 11 Physics class had more than doubled from 17 to 38, and at St Hilda's engineering technology enrolments for girls has gone from seven last year to 19 this year.
"We are delighted that Power of Engineering is genuinely inspiring young women to take these subjects by letting them see how they will be able to use them to enter the varied and exciting world of engineering.
"QUT's focus on promoting engineering to women in engineering careers is flowing through to uni as female engineering enrolments have increased at QUT from 11 per cent to 18 per cent and we received 130 applications for QUT's 10 engineering scholarships for women."
The Power of Engineering students will rotate through four activities designed to show them how engineering is applied in the real world. The activities are:
•Marshmallow challenge - using spaghetti and marshmallows students vie to build the tallest structure
•Create a city - students will test their engineering, town planning and collaboration skills to create a miniature city.
•Water filtration - students are assigned to different countries with varying resources to build a water filter.
•Tour of the Science and Engineering Centre - students learn about the unique design features of the Centre, 5 Star Green Star - Education Design v1 certified
The students also take a site tour to one of the following:
ARCAA (Australian Research Centre for Aerospace Automation) at Brisbane Airport to see researchers working on unmanned aircraft that will in future be used for search and rescue and monitoring natural disasters
•Port of Brisbane - to view how an efficient and sustainable port operates, as well as how PBPL protects the environmental values of the area
•Legacy Way Visitor Centre - guides students through the design and construction of the Legacy Way Tunnel, the connection with the local environment and the benefits of the project.
•Inner Brisbane Hidden Engineering Gems Walking Tour such as Kurilpa Bridge and the Wheel of Brisbane.
•Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Lend Lease - involves a presentation of the project to date with female engineers talking about the various designs of the project covering the different aspects of engineering: civil; structural; mechanical; electrical; and hydraulic.
Schools participating in Power of Engineering are:
•Prince of Peace, Everton Hills
•Genesis Christian College, Bray Park
•Runcorn State High School
•Redbank Plains State High School
•Lourdes Hill College, Hawthorne
•Dakabin State High School
•Aviation State High School, Clayfield
•Brisbane State High School
Ms Long said Power of Engineering co-founder QUT engineering graduate Felicity Briody, who was named by the Australian Financial Review as one of the 100 most Influential Women in Australia last year, would be guest speaker at the event.
Media contact: Niki Widdowson, QUT media officer, 07 3138 2999 or n.widdowson@qut.edu.au
