See What You Can Be in STEM

We need people who can do STEM, that much is clear, but the reasons for wholesale maths and science avoidance in schools is harder to clarify.

Young women and students from low SES backgrounds are not participating in STEM, they’re just not showing the interest in hard science and maths that boys are and this needs to change.

Research suggests that one of the reasons that girls are less likely to pursue STEM fields is because they have lower confidence levels in their maths and physical science skills compared to boys, even though their performance is similar.

According to Australia’s 2021 Youth in STEM survey 42% of boys aspire to a career in STEM, while only 21% of girls share the same ambition. This difference only seems to widen as students get older. Most girls who want to work in STEM are aged 12 to 13, and interest in engineering drops from 8% at 14 to 17, to only 5% at 18 to 25.

It is an odd situation given Australia punches well above its weight in science and inventiveness, the CSIRO is an absolutely world class scientific body and they have taken it upon themselves to promote STEM, especially to girls and less well-off students, through their outreach programs.

“It is extremely important for us to address these challenges. We are doing this by making STEM accessible and relatable to students through site visits and mentorships, by showcasing diverse STEM role models, and providing hands-on, engaging experiences,” says Ruth Carr, Director of CSIRO Education and Outreach.

“There is so much untapped potential in Australia. We want to see more young women engaged in STEM, more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students engaged in STEM, and students from regional, rural, and lower advantage areas. We need to show students the possibilities that are available to them. We need to make STEM real, and we need to make STEM relevant to them.”

CSIRO Education & Outreach collaborates with industry partners to provide students with an understanding of what STEM careers can be through programs like Generation STEM, STEM Together, Young Indigenous Women's STEM Academy, and STEM Professionals in Schools.

Generation STEM, is a 10-year initiative in NSW that aims to attract, support, and retain students in STEM. Generation STEM consists of three programs: Deadly in Generation STEM, the STEM Community Partnerships Program, and Generation STEM Links.

These programs connect students with local STEM industries and professionals through activities such as site visits, internships, camps, and mentorship, where they can gain firsthand exposure to real-world STEM and learn about the diverse opportunities in STEM. As part of Deadly in Generation STEM, students can also explore cultural knowledge connections and links to local STEM pathways.

STEM Professionals in Schools is another program that facilitates partnerships between teachers and industry professionals who volunteer to bring real STEM into the classroom.

One of the ideas CSIRO is keen to promote in the wideness of science and the transferability of STEM skills.

“STEM skills are highly applicable across different industries and career paths, whether it’s food or sport science, design or cybersecurity. What some students may not realise is that STEM skills like critical thinking, logic and reasoning, problem-solving, and creativity are all required in the rapidly evolving job market,” says Carr.

“These skills have become essential across various industries and roles and are no longer limited to traditional STEM careers. The demand for people with STEM expertise continues to grow as employers recognise the value of design thinking, inquiry and collaboration and communication in driving innovation and success. Also, careers are not linear, which creates a need for continuous learning and adaptability,” she says.

By equipping students with STEM knowledge and abilities, they can enhance their career prospects and make significant contributions to diverse sectors.

“We know not every student is going to be a scientist, but these are skills that all students will need to face the future, no matter where life takes them. This is also why we launched #WithSTEMYouCan. The campaign seeks to inform young people about the diverse range of STEM careers and the transferability of STEM skills across industries. We are trying to show students that STEM can apply to arts, sports, and music as well as physics, science, technology and maths. These skills create options rather than locking them into a particular sector,” she says.

CSIRO would like to see change in education to encourage STEM learning, this might be through integrating more hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences into the curriculum which helps to foster interdisciplinary connections between STEM and other subjects, and helps to build critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy skills.

“Part of this is also taking students out of the classroom, so they can see the connection between what they’re learning at school and what is happening in the workforce. Bringing that ‘real world’ context into students’ learning is really motivating for them.

“Schools can engage in STEM education by leveraging external resources and partnerships, such as with CSIRO. We offer lesson plans, teacher professional learning sessions, guest speakers, and webinars to take some of the pressure off. We understand it is tough when teachers are teaching outside of their trained subjects, so our programs aim to support with content, skills and knowledge that can be easily delivered in the classroom.

“STEM mentors can also serve as subject experts and play a pivotal role in supporting teachers. They can provide students with real-world guidance and deepen their understanding. For example, STEM Professionals in Schools helps teachers and students to access experts with specialised knowledge that we shouldn’t expect our teachers to have.

“An ideal STEM education empowers all students by offering them opportunities, igniting motivation, and enhancing their capabilities in STEM. The ultimate vision is to cultivate a deep-rooted passion for STEM within students and equip the next generation with the skills to foster creativity and drive innovation,” Carr says.

Schools can get involved by contacting the Generation STEM team, who will reach out and start the onboarding process.