For many teenagers, one of the toughest decisions they have to face is figuring out what to do after walking out of the school gates for the final time.
Now, a new partnership between the University of New England (UNE) and the Macquarie University’s National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP) will hopefully make this decision a little easier for some the New England region’s First Nations students.
“This partnership will give us the opportunity to visit local schools around the Armidale region and run science-related activities to inspire students who might be disengaged or close to dropping out to pursue a path in STEM,” says UNE Associate Professor of Chemistry, Dr Erica Smith.
“By reaching out to these students and building those relationships, we are able to better understand how we can support them on their pathways to finishing high school and moving into higher education and employment.”
Last week marked UNE’s maiden event under the partnership, with Mrs Toni Widders from UNE's Oorala Aboriginal Centre joining Dr Smith to visit Armidale Secondary College and open students’ eyes to the magic of science.
Groups of student leaders were selected and taught how to conduct a series of experiments, such as making slime and creating invisible ink. They were then given the opportunity to demonstrate these activities to their peers, which helped build self-confidence and motivation.
Indigenous people are Australia’s first scientists and building the bridge between Western and Indigenous science and knowledge systems is key to the future of sustainable and effective outcomes from science in Australia.
“By placing Indigenous secondary students in leadership roles they can gain the confidence, motivation and aspiration to finish school and pursue pathways to tertiary education and employment,” she says.
“Self-confidence gives students a greater opportunity to follow pathways that they may not have thought possible, or perhaps didn’t even realise existed.”
Opening students’ eyes to the array of options available to them is something that Dr Smith says could help encourage more diversity in STEM, which is something that’s sorely needed.
“Science is about asking and answering questions, so diversity in STEM ensures that a wide a variety of ideas are considered and that the application of knowledge is not only fit for purpose, but is sustainable and most importantly to the benefit of all, not the few,” she says.
“Indigenous people are Australia’s first scientists and building the bridge between Western and Indigenous science and knowledge systems is key to the future of sustainable and effective outcomes from science in Australia.”
You can read more about the program on the NISEP website.
