LifeJourney and the Northern Territory Department of Education delivered the first Day of STEM Future Careers in (NT) STEM series in October. The Hon. Minister for Education, Selena Uibo via a video message welcomed the students to the event reinforcing the importance of STEM in their lives and to their future careers in the Territory.

400 Year 8 to 10 students in Alice Springs and Darwin were introduced to the exciting real-world of Cyber and STEM careers. School leaders and teachers were offered Cyber Teacher professional learning with the first batch of Cyber Teacher Champions in the Territory ready to go. The Leadership session engaged a number of education and industry stakeholders discussing the best ways to integrate STEM into the curriculum and to help students realise their aspirations.

Students enjoyed a diverse range of immersive hands-on workshops led by leading education experts. Highlights are too numerous to mention. Students enjoyed all learning activities and found it hard to pick their favourite session. Steve Morrill, Cyber Teacher champion and one of his students Jake Sanft, Cyber student at Loyola Blakefield, Maryland USA captured the students’ imagination and many have been inspired by a career in Cybersecurity. They continue to be mentored online by their new American buddies.

Other inspirational sessions included coding with Sam Kingsley from the Brainary. Students loved scripting their favourite joke with NAO, the humanoid robot. Associate Professor Gillian Kidman and Roland Gesthuizen challenged the students through an inquiry-based interdisciplinary STEM learning model to solve the problems of camels breaking down fences in Alice Springs and making a tricky cane toad trap for the huge problem in Darwin.

Martin Levins and Steve Grant ‘s focus was on Digital Technologies curriculum. In Alice Springs students were exploring Micro:bits to design a solution to a navigational problem. In Darwin students were equally engaged. Martin introduced students to Micro:bits and coding where they designed a water meter to automate sprinklers. No one got wet in this activity (lol) Conserving water is high priority for us all and such a valuable commodity particularly in the Territory.

In Alice Springs, Uber-Air, Dan Gerich provided an exciting outdoor activity with large commercial drones. Dan is keen that students see this emerging area and the jobs of future using drone services, 3D laser scanning and data analysis for remote Australia. Dr. Elisha Harris of Engineers Australia challenged the students to build stable structures against very strong winds. Elisha found a large student talent pool with many emerging engineers sighted in Darwin.

LifeJourney plans to continue working with students and teachers in the Territory. LifeJourney wishes to thank all the fabulous presenters, students, teachers and school leaders for making this Day of STEM event very memorable.