Drone Work Experience student shares her insights on the importance of starting STEM studies at a young age and promoting STEM diversity in the classroom.
Guest Post about Drone Work Experience
This post has been written by Madelynn, a Year 9 student from Cairns who participated in a Work Experience week with She Maps.
Youth and Diversity in STEM
For a long time, society has classed men and women as being more or less capable in different fields. For example, in the subject of science and technology, research shows that this field has a men to women ratio of 72% to 28%. However, as we move forward and advance in technology and become more modernised, new opportunities will arise for the next generation. But is this continual development encouraging teamwork between all young people in the coming generation?
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) does exactly that. There are many industries encompassed within STEM such as agriculture, architecture, ecology, biology, technology and much more. STEM has a heavy involvement with entrepreneurial companies like She Maps, which is based on getting young girls into science technologies.
With these partnerships and involvements, STEM as a whole aims to bring young boys and girls together as one to continue following on with modern projects.
One of these modern projects is learning about AI. A recent study showed that it will replace over 20 million manufacturing jobs by 2030. Hence, it makes sense for STEM entrepreneurial companies like She Maps to encourage boys and girls across the board to learn about this development and be the generation to have these responsibilities of furthering AI.
Created by Paul Mead and Dr. Karen Joyce, She Maps is all about getting in touch with young girls and bringing more into the world of science and working together with other people within their age group, fostering diversity in STEM.
Now having that understanding of what STEM and She Maps is about, how will this benefit youth? Previously said, this next generation will take us forward into the future of technology, new inventions, and furthering scientific research unlike before.
Why the focus on youth, also known as ‘the next generation’? The goal is starting at a young age so that as children progress through life, a deeper understanding of science and STEM diversity is gained. This will then spark the interest of many other people around the world, and hopefully, increase the number of female employees in this work sector.
Boys and girls in their youth now have a very different future to look forward to with the continual scientific research taking place now, and the production of AI. When looking back at the point of the long-standing gender stereotypes in workplaces, as the future changes, youths can then develop the power to realise that men and women are as capable as each other. A new generation, bigger and better inventions of AI, modernised futures, and an equal outlook about men and women.
We can consider the flow-on effect. Starting in their youth, boys and girls will forget the past stereotypes and all will have an equal chance. This will likely follow through to their future, continuing with AI studies, new products, and furthering STEM research, remaining a team.
Biography
Hi, my name is Madelynn. I am 14, born in Cairns, and a grade 9 student. I take particular interest in subjects of science, technology, and engineering. I also have been a certified drone pilot for one year, giving me the ability to commercially pilot an unmanned aircraft up to seven kilograms. Though I have experience with flying, through CASA and Wicked Copters, I was invited to JCU to take part in a week of work experience in this subject with She Maps. The event contained so many open activities to participate in, workshops in speaking, and practical flying with micro-drones. It was certainly a valuable experience with new learning curves, and anyone given this same opportunity should take the chance and go for it, there’s so much to learn and something for everyone.
Click on the link to read about Increasing Diversity in STEM with The Surveyors’ Trust.