A record 260 high school students from across Queensland and New South Wales are spending their September holidays at uni this week to take part in the 2022 QUT Future You STEM Summit.
The four-day summit is focusing on career opportunities and jobs of the future, including the technology jobs boom that the 2032 Olympics is expected to bring to Brisbane and Queensland.
Most of the Year 11 and 12 students are participating in STEM taster practicals in engineering, health and science, with about 70 taking part in separate internship placements where they are working with QUT research teams this week.
All students are also attending conference-style sessions to hear from guest speakers from industry and government, who will talk about future job opportunities – including in health and sport – and the importance of a STEM mindset.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will deliver the keynote address to the young people on Friday.
Most of the Future You STEM Summit participants are from Brisbane, but the regions are also well represented.
The visiting students include:
- 8 from the Gold Coast
- 18 from the Sunshine Coast
- 4 from Rockhampton
- 6 from Gladstone/Yeppoon
- 9 from Cairns/Mareeba
- 8 from Townsville/Ayr
- 5 from northern New South Wales (including Lismore)
- 2 from Sydney
- 8 from Bundaberg
- 5 from Wide Bay
- 8 from Toowoomba/Darling Downs
- 3 from Mackay
- 2 from Gympie
- 1 from Roma
QUT STEM High School Engagement program manager Simone Long said the summit traditionally attracted high achievers who were smart, motivated and already had an interest in STEM.
"It's a fun week that gives senior school students a chance to mix with researchers and university students – and also hear from industry and government experts who visit QUT for the event to share their knowledge," she said.
"It really does give them a taste of STEM technical skills and professional skills and experiences that will amplify their job prospects in the future.
"We also find that it can help students clarify the areas they are really interested in going on to pursue at university and during their careers.
"This next decade will see Queensland transformed for the Olympic Games, with a wide cross-section of commercial sectors benefiting and the creation of new jobs across all sectors – none more so than the STEM industries."
The opening day included keynote addresses from Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea, Director, STEM Careers, ATSE, and Allan Uhlmann, Chief Engineer (Acting) with Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads.
There were also talks by speakers from Boeing, Fujitsu, Cisco, Cross River Rail, EY, and Polymathian.
Wednesday's program includes a 'fireside chat' with QUT's Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Margaret Sheil, and space science and astrobiology researcher Dr David Flannery.
The school students will also go on industry site visits to Cross River Rail and Suncorp on Wednesday.
Thursday's program includes a focus on STEM trends in health, with speakers from companies including Cisco and Bionics Queensland.
The week will be rounded out on Friday with an interactive session on 'Future Jobs, Future You', that will include highlighting the opportunities of the 2032 Olympics.
The keynote speakers will be Brisbane Lord Mayor Brisbane Adrian Schrinner and Dr Catherine Ball from the World of Drones and Robotics.
Other speakers will be there representing Suncorp, Translink, BHP, QUT Centre for Biomedical Technologies, and The Hydrogen Collective.
