Techtrails: Inspiring Young Students to Pursue STEM Careers

17/04/2023

Women in Technology WA (WiTWA) is the leading advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) for women in technology in Western Australia. The Techtrails STEM and Future Skills Program was designed by WiTWA to generate passion, excitement and interest to inspire young people to consider careers in technology and science. This article was written by Rachel Fu, WiTWA Marketing and Communications Coordinator.

In today's world, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) careers are in high demand, and the need for skilled professionals in these fields is only growing. It is a fact that 75% of all future jobs will require STEM skills and looking forward, 64% of students who are currently starting primary school will be working in jobs that don’t exist yet.

However, even when presented with these statistics many young people, especially girls, are still avoiding STEM careers due to systemic and cultural barriers, including:

Educators who lack the understanding to teach students what STEM is
Career advisors who are unable to provide examples of the full range of STEM careers available
Parents whose own employment and education circumstances have an effect on their children’s study and careers

But learning STEM skills is going to be essential for students in their daily lives, especially in today's world with new technologies emerging in fields such as biomedicine, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Being able to understand and use data effectively, as well as solving complex problems, are important skills that students should look to acquire.

With the aim to inspire young people, particularly girls, to pursue and explore STEM careers, Women in Technology WA (WiTWA) designed the Techtrails initiative. Since its inception, the program has reached over 4,500 students, with 75% of the participants reporting an increased interest in STEM.

Techtrails is a full-day incursion available for Western Australian secondary schools, offered for free to public schools. It introduces students to STEM through several engaging and interactive sessions, run by STEM professionals who volunteer their time.

Students have the opportunity to interact with these volunteers, listen to them talk about their careers and ask questions. Some of the volunteers have included:

Lucy Cooke – CEO and Founder of Spacedraft
Storm Nuttall – Marine Manager of Rio Tinto Karratha
Ivana Deng – Program Manager at WA Data Science Innovation Hub
Bec Nguyen – Founder and Director of Upbeat Digital
Brigette McDowell – CEO of Cheeditha Energy
Jo Minney – Digital Happiness Manager of House Digital

The volunteers not only aim to generate passion, excitement, and interest in STEM, but to increase young people’s confidence and self-belief in pursuing a STEM career. By connecting with these professionals, it is easier for students to picture themselves in these careers and realise that it is possible for them too.

Many of these role models have also taken what they call a “Squiggly” line in pursuing their jobs and careers, which are not always linear or logical. By providing real-life stories of their personal pathways, they can dispel preconceived notions about STEM careers.

Through Techtrails, students are also exposed to the diverse range of STEM careers. The program explores current careers through the Toolkit: Career Development Platform website, which includes pathways to become a:

Space Nurse
Robotic Engineer
Sustainable Energy Solution Architect
Space Tourism Operator
Swarm Artist, and more

Students are encouraged to utilise the free Toolkit website to identify their interests and passions that could lead them to a promising career. In addition, career advisors and educators are invited to contact the Techtrails Team to learn more about the program and how to organise a Techtrails Incursion at their school.

"We highly recommend the Techtrails Incursion to other schools and educators. The students were exposed to powerful career and success stories from Women in STEM, which opened their eyes to things they wouldn't have seen otherwise. The program allowed them to see what STEM looks like in real life, which resulted in many surprising discoveries. Hands-on activities, such as Spacedraft, made a greater impression on the girls and sparked their interest in STEM. It's essential to step out of your comfort zone and give programs like Techtrails a chance to make a positive impact." - PENNY WALMSLEY FROM BYFORD SECONDARY COLLEGE

Contact details:

Techtrails Website for Schools: https://www.techtrails.org.au/for-schools/
Techtrails Toolkit Career Discovery Platform for students: https://toolkit.techtrails.org.au/
Email address: [email protected] or [email protected]