Growing up in today’s world can be challenging. Young people today have so much more on their plate than the generations of yesteryear. They feel a need to live up to social media standards, whilst taking on the challenge to learn difficult topics and curriculum and excelling in extra-curricular activities. Generation Z students – those born from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s – work with technology in the classroom, as well as technical terminology – and sometimes, the bigger picture can become blurred.
To help Australia’s youth succeed, we need to up our game. We need to encourage and inspire the younger generation.
How to help
STEMmates provides a platform for our young learners to engage with fundamental principles and concepts of the building blocks of the of the jobs and economy of the future – Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, through hands-on and activity based workshops. Designed to give students a forum to apply what they learn in school, these workshops aim to give a context for the applicability of STEM knowledge, whilst providing them with an opportunity to further cultivate the curiosity, imagination and passion for these subjects.
One of the underlying aims of what we do is to raise future leaders, scientists and entrepreneurs – and instil in them both the knowledge and values needed to thrive in a world that is rapidly evolving.
Our courses also aim to bridge the gender gap and advance gender equity. Women currently comprise as little as 13% of undergraduates in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and this has the potential to perpetuate the gap in the future which could lead to major issues for Australia’s economy. To prevent the continuation of this trend, subjects like mechanics and robotics are taught to both genders, from the age of 7.
A recent article cited that as many as 86,000 students drop out of schools in Australia before finishing Year 12. STEMmates strives to ensure that we are able to get learners interested in education and more importantly, keep them interested, well into their later years with our carefully orchestrated classes. They are also taught social skills and communication methods, essential tools for surviving in any path or career they seek in the future. Our workshops also teach them how to be independent learners and to build their confidence through interaction with others.
Cultivating curiosity, imagination and passion for STEM
The responsibility of care of our future generations doesn’t just lie in the hands of teachers and parents. All of us are able to help the youth of our country succeed. Join our STEMmates community by signing up for our courses through our Facebook and website, and inspire our children today.