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STEM and the future

Today’s robots

Most of us have been around long enough to realize that what was once considered Sci-Fi, is very much today’s norm. People are zipping around on personal mobility devices and maneuvering them without the use of their arms. Our children know how to use tablets and phones even before being able to read.

And yes, we now talk to robots. Most websites now feature some sort of artificially intelligent run chatbot, that answers most of our questions without them even being read by a real person. In 2017, Sophia, was named the world’s first robot citizen in Saudi Arabia.

What then is there left for the average Joe to do, if robots and technology are taking over our planet? Even Bill Gates once talked about a “robot tax” to slow down the insanely rapid rate of automation that our world is moving at. This idea was rejected by lawmakers, of course. But it does make sense to think about compensating people whose jobs have been lost to robots.

This displacement is just going to become more widespread and the problem with unemployed real people, is just going to worsen. Estimates are that 6 million jobs could be replaced with automation by 2030.

How do we stay on top?

Change brings with it, opportunity. We just need to find it.

Today’s workforce needs to be skilled and adaptable if it is going to survive the age of automation. Artificial intelligence, Big Data, Coding, The Internet of Things and Robotics are all terms used quite often in today’s business world and the businesses need people who understand how it all works.

STEM

Australian school systems are starting to realize this trend and are now putting a lot more emphasis on STEM subjects in school, which refers to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. To have a skilled workforce, the country must have competent students ready to take on the challenge. These students will not only need technological skills but a plethora of soft skills as well. These include, an analytical mindset, high levels of emotional intelligence, leadership and creativity. That’s where STEM methods come in.

STEMmates

STEMmates uses teaching methods that inspire children to learn. The future generation is not going to be able to learn one skill, and use it alone for the rest of their career, like generations of old. They need to be dynamic and studying will be a permanent part of their lives.

Our courses are designed to encourage children to pick up difficult and technical knowledge at a young age. Our Introduction to Aerodynamics course, for example, is aimed at children as young as 7. Through our lessons, children also pick up valuable soft skills, such as, problem-solving, creative thinking and communication.

For more information, visit our Facebook and website pages.

Superwomen of STEM

Florence Violet Mckenzie, or Mrs Mac, as she was more affectionately known as, was born in 1890 and would devote the bigger part of her life to engineering in Australia. Unlike many of her male counterparts, Florence’s name is barely recognized around the country despite her service to it. McKenzie was Australia’s very first electrical engineer, first female amateur radio operator and she also later became the founder of the Electrical Association for Women.

During World War II, Florence created the Women’s Emergency Signaling Corps and some of her trainees were asked to work for the Royal Australian Navy. Her original idea was to train women to learn communications so that the men could serve the country in the war. The project was eventually known as the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service. She also trained about 12,000 servicemen in her Morse code training school. Between 1918 and 1934, she had her own successful electrical contracting and wireless supplies business and here, all her work was done pro bono.

McKenzie was also in correspondence with Albert Einstein in the years from 1949 leading up to the time he died. She would send him letters and gifts from all over the world, brought to her by her airline pilot friends.

Later elected a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Navigation and a Member of the Royal Naval Amateur Radio Society, when she died in 1982, she said, “…it is finished, and I have proved to them all that women can be as good as, or better than men.”

Not everything was smooth sailing for Florence and her signalling “girls in green”. She had to design a uniform for them to make it very clear to the rest of the world that their service and motive was true. The navy also had to be convinced to let them work, and later, kept them a secret.

STEM Superwomen of today

STEM refers to science, technology, math and engineering. More and more companies and organizations from all industries are realizing the importance of women taking charge and joining STEM industries.

For example, earlier this year, the Bauer Media, the owner of brands like Women’s Weekly, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar, joined forces with Elucent Skincare to find the next STEM superwoman. They advertised an AUD$20,000 grant for the winning participant who would join Elucent Skincare’s microbiologist Alexandra Kite in her work as a beauty scientist.

STEMmates’ superheroes

STEMmates’ goal is to empower all the children, male or female, that pass through our doors, to become the supermen and superwomen that they are.

Our courses are designed to teach them skills that will follow them into their adult years.

Give your child the chance to wear that cape today. Sign up for our STEM courses through our Facebook and website pages.