As Fellows, we will undertake research into best practice for promoting the participation of young people, particularly girls, in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics during their education and their eventual career. The program will support an agreed research study into the practices of other OECD countries that better inform young people (school age cohort) about the importance of STEM literacy for the jobs of the future and the significantly enhanced career opportunities for STEM literate people. The research will address how industry communicates its workforce needs for the future to young people and also to the key influencers of young people, namely parents, teachers and vocational counsellors.
For this Fellowship, I will be undertaking a series of trips across NZ, the US, the UK and Europe to talk with world leading experts on how to engage young people in STEM and particularly Technology fields, with a particular focus on gender diversity. The research will be published as a final report and key findings will be used to shape STEM education and engagement in Australia.
Keep an eye out on this blog and my Twitter Feed (@RebeccaVivian #CEWstem) as I post about my travels. My research journey will start in New Zealand for a week, and then my around the world trip will start at the end of September.