senior school St Aidan’s students are starting to buck this trend, with a number of girls going on to study engineering and other nontraditional career pathways at university following high school. A group of Year 9 and 10 students were recently given first-hand experience into the working life of an engineer when they joined more than 100 female high school students from around Brisbane for The Power of Engineering event at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Organised by the State Government’s Office for Women, the purpose of the event was to expose girls to the numerous and varied career paths available in the engineering field, particularly in the resources and energy sectors. In workshops, students ran scientific tests on renewable energy, water filtration and material strength. They then had the opportunity to witness the work carried out by electrical, civil and mechanical engineers at various sites around the city. St Aidan’s students were mentored by young AECOM engineer, Felicity Brody, who said it was important for girls to have a thorough understanding of engineering and how it empowered women to change the world. “Women on project teams are a win for the culture and performance of that team. They can bring a new or different perspective to a problem, which in my experience can lead to new or more effective solutions to challenges,” Ms Brody said on the QUT website. St Aidan’s students are also continuing to achieve national and international recognition in science and engineering through the Australian Space Design Competition, this year scooping up first place for the third time. huddle I june 2012
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