STEM ambassadors get taste for innovation

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STEM ambassadors
Bundaberg Christian College grade nine students Broden Spanner and Tom Daly with CLS trade assistant Jackson Coomber

About 20 of the region’s students and school STEM ambassadors had plenty to create and discover yesterday visiting the Community Lifestyle Support Makerspace with Felicity Furey.

Felicity was in the region for Bundaberg Regional Council’s Hinkler Innovation Series breakfast but took time out to share her story with the students.

Kepnock State High School teacher Nicole Amey said the students got so much out of meeting Felicity and hearing about her career.

She said some of the female students interested in following similar career paths asked her plenty of questions about the engineering industry.

“Felicity was really good about the challenges and opportunities,” Nicole said.

Students interested in being part of a STEM platform within their schools were invited to participate in the day, which Nicole said was a focus for Kepnock.

“What we want to do is not just encourage it as STEM but open it up to innovation.”

She said the day had been highly successful allowing students to problem solve, engage, evaluate and question.

STEM ambassadors
Kepnock State High School grade 9 student and STEM ambassador Lana Browne.

Kepnock State High School grade nine student and STEM ambassador Lana Browne said she’d had a “really fun” day during what was her visit to the CLS Makerspace.

“I’ve experienced a lot of things I don’t think I would have done if I didn’t come here,” Lana said.

As part of the projects she worked on during the day Lana said she made a badge using a soldering iron and played Fruit Ninja on virtual reality.

Lana said she was happy to be a STEM ambassador.

“We had to send in a video to the university saying how much we like STEM.

“I pretty much said I was a giant nerd!

“I’ve liked science and engineering for a really long time now.

“I’m hoping to get in to science.”

STEM ambassadors
Bundaberg State High School students Leila Hepi-Tehuia and Havannah Sang making badges at Community Lifestyle Support

CLS CEO Damien Tracey said it was a pleasure to host the students and STEM ambassadors.

“It’s awesome just being able to expose people to technology they haven’t yet been able to explore,” Damien said.

With emerging and future jobs lying in the innovation field he said it was “absolutely critical” for facilities like the Makerspace available to schools.

“Exposure at an early age is going to create a lot more interest.”

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