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The Scitech Festival: Inspiring Careers in STEM
The two-day festival run by Scitech offered students, parents, teachers, and community members insight into careers in the fields of innovative science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
A Unique Opportunity for High School Students
Our Albany-based and Perth-based officers who volunteered at the event shared their experiences, emphasizing the tremendous opportunity that students in years 9 to 12 had to interact with department scientists, planners, and graduate recruits. This interaction provided invaluable lessons about the broad spectrum of work and research we undertake.
Dedicated Experts at Work
Leading the efforts at our booth was the esteemed Section Manager Water Allocation Planning, Rebecca Palandri. She shared that communicating complex scientific concepts could be challenging, but her team was enthusiastic and did an excellent job engaging high school students with the work they do.
Shedding Light on Vital Research
Rebecca further explained, “Our booth showcased our important work and research on Western Australia’s groundwater – a precious hidden resource suffering from the impacts of climate change. We also highlighted our local estuary science and shed light on the globally harmful effects of microplastics.”
She further added, “One unique aspect of our department’s booth was that it was staffed by people living and working in Albany. This provided a local perspective and showed the students that they don’t need to move to Perth to engage in fascinating scientific endeavors.”
Nurturing Scientific Curiosity
Reflecting on the festival, Rebecca stated, “The event was a fantastic opportunity for our graduates and junior staff to have meaningful conversations about science with high school students, many of whom attended the same school they did. It was heartening to see the students genuinely interested in the scientific developments happening in their environment.”
Rebecca emphasized the significance of practicing the skill of communicating science, stating, “It is through practice that we become better at conveying scientific ideas. The festival was a platform for students to gain insights into the world of science and make more informed career choices in their chosen fields of study.”
Promoting STEM career opportunities
The festival fostered and encouraged students’ interest in STEM fields. It showcased a wide range of career opportunities within our department, including our 2024 Graduate Program that offers exciting prospects for aspiring graduates.
