Page 12 - HCC Connect Vol 24 Issue 10 Nov 3 2023

Year 9 Girls STEM Intensive
On Friday of Week 2, 14 of Harvest’s Year 9 girls travelled to Flinders University for a 3-day STEM (Science/ Technology/Engineering/Mathematics) Enrichment Conference. The opening speaker shared about her research into astroparticle physics! The students were then led through a range of hands-on workshops that allowed them to explore facial recognition technology, create
their own jewellery with electroplating, experiment with biodegradable alternatives to plastic food packaging and much more.
On Day 2 during breakfast, the students listened to four women sharing about their journeys in STEM careers and received some tips for pursuing the same. They then participated in workshops experimenting with gravity and forces, formulating custom soaps, and creating their own spectrometers to analyse visible light!
For the final day of the Conference, the girls travelled to Flinders University’s Tonsley Campus where they were showcased some of the innovative technologies being developed by female engineers. They then toured some of the facilities on site before engaging in an artificial reality treasure hunt! The day concluded with a workshop that expanded their understanding of kinetics and kinematics. The conference was a great experience for the students and we especially thank Flinders University and our two accompanying mums for making it all possible!
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