Friday 24th May 2019
Opened 5.30pm Dunwoody’s Sheridan Street
Present:
- Michael Kateifides
- Darren Barden
- Stephen Ung
- Lorraine Goodall
- Paul Mead
- Karen Joyce
- Benjamin Farkas
- Maria Anglim
- Philemon Chigeza
- Sandy Sayaxang
- Anja van Hooydonk
- Tiffany Turnour
- Celia Berrell
Anja van Hooydonk opened the meeting with a report on our activities to date, including last year’s STEM Fair, two PD courses (She Maps & Arduino/Problem Solving) and the start of our STEM Hub website. She explained we have received a further $12,000 in funding with an aim to promote STEM and STEM career awareness to our community as well as students. Anja asked “how do we want to grow the STEM hub?” Everyone was then given to opportunity to respond with their ideas and suggestions.
Tiffany Turnour added that more schools wish to attend the next STEM Fair this August and there is especially interest in having more industry contact.
Stephen Ung: There are partnerships we haven’t explored yet and we need to understand how they would like to contribute. Eg Auricon recently held a presentation at the Hotel Riley, displaying VR designs and engineering. How can we engage with them so they can get something out of partnering with us? Maybe invite them to the next STEM Fair.
Adam Hooper: Auricon is already involved with Trinity Bay SHS and Science Challenge at JCU where there is funding for activities in Townsville, but not Cairns. We need funds for facilitators in Cairns. Citizen Science projects such as Microplastics, Birdlife Australia, Stidkybeaks and Funky Foragers are all run with passion. We could invite them to the next STEM Fair and maybe invite them to provide a profile for the STEM hub website. Adam and Lorena will email Tiffany with contacts.
Darren Barden: we need to use some of the funding to build a proper community for these things, including the website, so people who provide STEM can find US.
Lorena Goodall: Q-Site is in the process of building up their FNQ website. Longevity comes from doing regular activities and partnerships. Eg. Taylah Griffin is an Indigenous female STEM Award- winner. Lorena said she would find out more and get back to us.
Benjamin Farkas: recently returned from a trip to Asia including a visit to Singapore Griffith University and concludes that Australia is quite behind with student STEM engagement.
Michael Kateifides: who enjoys fireworks? Let’s do a project that includes fireworks and this year’s United Nations Year of the Periodic Table. This year’s Innisfail Show includes a stall on Explosives and Fireworks, connecting community and industry. Michael is also organising a similar stall at the Atherton Show (with some sponsorship from Officeworks) and offered to help with a stall at the Cairns Show. Mike Newman does the fireworks display for both Innisfail and Cairns Shows and he can bring his computer to show how you work out angles and thrust. Fireworks can be a foot-in-the- door for having a stall at the Cairns Show. Lorena said she might go. The Cairns Show runs from 17- 19/7.
Karen Joyce: initially asked about feedback regarding previous STEM hub activities and agreed that getting feedback from students is difficult but could be valuable. Lorena is participating in the Careers Fair and said she would ask students what they are interested in.
Benjamin Farkas: suggested we could include seeking such feedback at a stall at the Cairns Show thought having an iPad available with a survey about STEM engagement.
Paul Mead: She Maps has held contests at Trinity Bay SHS eg. Tournament of the Drones. Community Challenges of this kind have been very successful. All we need is to provide a venue (ie. half a gym). This could cater for 45-60 participants. He suggested we could sponsor six students from each school participating in the STEM Fair and hold on a different day. They did something similar at JCU last year on a school day.
Lorena Goodall: offered to call in Night Sky as a possible partner too.
Sandy Sayaxang: advised that the Libraries are broadening their focus on STEAM themes and including seniors. There would be opportunity for networking with STEM hub too with some of their family oriented events like the Annual International Fun Palace Event.
Maria Anglim: has partnered with Matt Ritchie at theMakers (TAFE) in LED’s and soldering with indigenous students. Anja invited her to consider showcasing some of their work at the next STEM Fair or sharing on the STEM hub website.
Philemon Chigeza: said he has critical mass with students who are required to do 20 days of community engagement at JCU as part of their course. This year, they already have commitments, but next year, with sufficient notice, he could help connect us with students for projects.
It was agreed that Michael’s proposal to have a stall at the Cairns Show should be pursued. Lorena offered to put something together for a flyer.
Next STEM HUB Meeting
Wednesday 5th June 5pm at Library, St Mary’s College, Woree