Attracting girls to science, engineering and technology: an Australian perspective

This paper describes a project undertaken by the school outreach team at the School of Engineering, University of Tasmania, Australia, to attract girls to science, engineering and technology (SET). The project was a pilot program designed to engage female students from upper primary to senior secondary in the teaching of physical sciences. A pre-project survey revealed girls preferred working in small groups, they preferred learning through practical activities, technology was reported as artefact and they preferred learning about biological or environmental sciences. Based on this information the outreach team devised a program that provided schools with hands-on resource kits, provided professional learning for science teachers, connected schools with professional female engineer mentors, and encouraged girls to participate in extra-curricular SET activities and competitions. The outcomes of the year-long project are discussed and recommendations are made for further research.