Girls power up

A group of local high school students recently participated in hands-on engineering and technology challenges at Hydro Tasmania’s Cambridge Workshop as part of its Girls in Power program.

The two-day workshop engaged young women in fun and immersive activities that are designed to inspire an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Hydro Tasmania’s executive general manager of people, culture and engagement Ruth Groom said the program was a fantastic opportunity to introduce young women to the possibility of a career in STEM.

“Women are still underrepresented in STEM industries, including the renewable energy sector,” she said.

“We want to encourage more young women to take up STEM subjects in years 11 and 12 and consider careers in our sector when they graduate.

“Girls make up only one quarter of year 12 enrolments in information technology, physics and engineering subjects, according to the Australian Government’s STEM Equity Monitor.

“The number of women enrolling in university STEM courses and working in STEM jobs has increased but only 37 per cent of university STEM enrolments are from women, and women represent just 15 per cent of all people working in STEM jobs.”

The workshops saw 35 students participate in challenges that address real-world scenarios and solving questions such as how to transfer water from a water source to a power station.

A giant, tactile 3D model of a Tasmanian landscape assisted the students develop a proposal to transfer the water while considering the environment, geology and cost.

The students got behind the scenes with a tour of Meadowbank Power Station and participate in ‘speed careering,’ where they were given the opportunity to quiz Hydro Tasmania staff and representatives from related businesses like TasNetworks.

“Our goal is for students to leave the workshop feeling excited about the possibilities that a career in STEM can offer them,” Ms Groom said.

“We need young women to feel they belong and can achieve great things in our sector.

“One way we can do this is to introduce them to STEM subjects from a young age and encourage them to follow these pathways at university.”

Hydro Tasmania’s education program Generation Hydro runs STEM activities for primary and secondary school students across the Tasmania.

For more information visit
www.hydro.com.au/education