Inspiring Indigenous Girls to Participate in STEM

Stacey Buckley was one of five students from New South Wales (Australia) selected to attend NASA's Space Training Camp last October.

“I never thought I would have the opportunity to do anything related to science,” she said. “So coming to the US and participating in NASA Space Camp opened a door for me that I never thought I would be able to touch.”

Opportunities to help Indigenous youth develop skills

The camp, held at the US Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama (USA), attracts young people from many countries to participate in activities related to aerospace, space travel and leadership skills training.

Stacey is proud to represent the Aboriginal community in Australia. She dreams of pursuing a degree in Science at university and is studying Chemistry, Earth Science and Biology at school. During camp activities, Stacey was particularly excited to experience the gravity chair, which simulates the pull of the Moon.

The NASA boot camp program is funded through a new partnership between the National Aboriginal Sports Opportunity Academy (NASCA) and the Honeywell Global Leadership Challenge Academy.

NASCA, an Indigenous-led organisation in New South Wales, aims to support Indigenous students to achieve academic success. Hayley Astill, Deputy Director of NASCA, is a Gamilaraay Ularoi.

Hayley said the camp was an opportunity to help Indigenous youth develop skills and pave the way for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

"Aboriginal women rarely get opportunities like this... Opening doors for them to explore the world is something we strive for," Hayley added.

Jasmine Wilson, a year 12 student from the Kamilaroi and Wiradjuri communities at Tempe High School in Sydney's west, hopes the experience will enhance her leadership skills.

Jasmine shared: "I believe this program will help me become more confident, especially when I can meet many people and represent my culture and school."

Jasmine's science teacher, Sharee Bourke, has noticed more and more girls taking an interest in science subjects like Physics and Chemistry.

Stacey Buckley was one of five students from New South Wales (Australia) selected to attend NASA's Space Training Camp last October.

“Everything has changed, and it’s amazing… I see myself as a role model for women and girls entering the science field. It’s great to see them confidently exploring Science and expressing themselves,” she said.

Choose to pursue your passion

Renee Wootton, a Tharawal woman, is used to flying high. The aerospace engineer is interning at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Los Angeles, with dreams of becoming Australia’s first Indigenous astronaut.

“I’m currently working on an early-stage research project for future space exploration, which is really exciting,” she said. Growing up in Queensland, she was the first in her family to go to university and the first to pursue aviation. At 15, Renee joined the Air Force Academy – an opportunity she says “changed my life forever”.

“You can’t imagine all the opportunities that are waiting for you ahead,” she shared. “Every time I choose to pursue my passion and goal of developing the global aerospace industry, I feel like doors have opened in ways I never expected.”

Since then, Renee has worked on the Western Sydney International Airport project, led Aboriginal recruitment strategy at Qantas Group and is currently Director of New Market Development at biotechnology company Lanzajet.

Source: ABC

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/australia-truyen-cam-hung-cho-tre-em-gai-tho-dan-tham-gia-stem-20241119164339066.htm