Growing Tall Poppies aims to encourage QLD girls to study STEM subjects

Image – Claire Cranitch (centre) during a recent Growing Tall Poppies program

Former Emmaus College Rockhampton student, Claire Cranitch is hoping to have more Queensland schoolgirls involved, in her role as Griffith University’s event coordinator of the national Growing Tall Poppies program.

The fourth-year student is passionate about science but fears a misconception of how complex the study can be, can scare individuals away. Cranitch draws on her own university experiences, working alongside researchers and physicists, to encourage more young girls into scientific studies.

She is sharing her experiences with senior school students during the Future-proof your career, the Griffith STEM Roadshow in Ipswich, Lismore, Toowoomba, Cairns, Darwin, Rockhampton and Mackay from 13 July – 17 August.

“A lot of young people just don’t realise how much technology and science impacts their everyday lives.

“Just about everyone carries a phone in their pocket which is basically a mini computer. Its functionality and various uses covers just about every scientific field,” said Cranitch.

Griffith University’s Sciences faculty is introducing a new suite of double degrees to enhance the employability prospects of its graduates. Among eight new degree programs being offered, are a world and Australian first Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/ Bachelor of Aviation combination; a complementary Bachelor of Environmental Sciences/ Bachelor of Business degree; plus an exciting initiative which explores the practical implications of drones in the newly created Bachelor of Engineering (Honours), majoring in Electronics and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles engineering degree.