Meet the changemakers: CSIRO
CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) works with industry, government and the research community to create science-based solutions to address some of Australia’s greatest challenges.
The changemaker series highlights the organizations, supported by BHP Foundation, that work on building solutions to complex social and environmental challenges. This time, we shine a light on CSIRO and the STEM Together program.
For over 40 years, CSIRO Education and Outreach have been inspiring students and the community through high quality STEM education experiences.
Why is CSIRO’s work needed
In a rapidly advancing digital world, transferable STEM-based skills such as curiosity, problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, innovation, teamwork and communication are becoming increasingly important to build the workforce of the future.
However, girls, Indigenous students and young people from regional and lower opportunity areas are underrepresented in STEM.
To solve the world’s 21st century challenges, we need their diverse perspectives.
The solution
To engage these groups in building vital STEM based skills, CSIRO developed the STEM Together program.
The program works to create a more inclusive ecosystem and workforce, by helping students between years 5-10 from underrepresented groups and the adults who support them to build capability, confidence and connection with STEM.
The Young Future Shapers project provides students with support in real-world STEM applications, connecting them with industry experts and peers and sparking future career aspirations. The Adult Future Shapers and Educator Professional Learning programs enable teachers and community members to better support young students in their STEM learning.
The results so far
In the past year, an unprecedented 935 participants attended the three-part series “The Classroom Brain”, featuring CSIRO Neuroscientist Dr Dana Bradford as part of the Educator Professional Learning webinars.
Of this cohort:
- 97% reported an increased knowledge of the topic
- 81% reported an increased confidence to apply this knowledge
- 96% reported that it was relevant to their work
The Youth Reference Council, which sees eight diverse young people from around Australia come together to tackle the barriers students face in accessing STEM-based learning opportunities, was established this year. So far, the Council has advised on a range of youth-focussed initiatives, including Young Future Shapers, CSIRO's National Science Experiment, and at an upcoming meeting they will be consulted on the Student Longitudinal Data System (SLoDS), and the #WithSTEMYouCan campaign.
Future plans of program
BHP Foundation continues to support the STEM Together program as the CSIRO team explore how AI and machine learning can help them build insights into the barriers and enablers behind young people becoming and staying engaged in STEM.
“We need people from all corners of our country to engage in solving problems using STEM and skills for the future”, Victoria Thom, BHP Foundation's Australia Program Director.
STEM Together is a powerful approach to addressing the systemic challenge of underrepresentation in STEM. We are excited by the innovation CSIRO are leading to understand the root causes behind why some young people are not represented in the STEM talent pipeline. They are working directly with young people to ignite their passion, while inviting educators, families, industry and community to collaborate on solutions that will drive enduring change.
