Hands-on Day sets new benchmark in creative experience

In the quest for innovative ways to attract more women to roles in engineering and technology, the UTS Women in Engineering and IT team welcomed hundreds of female high school students for its first Hands on Day for 2014.

Last week saw the biggest participation ever, with more than 370 female high school students from 28 schools around NSW interacting with 60 volunteers and 15 staff members. The Year 9 to 12 girls took part in 17 hands-on activities, including one led by Powerhouse Museum Thinkspace tutor, Joy Suliman.

Powerhouse Museum Thinkspace tutor, Joy Suliman (right), with a student programming light and sound with Arduino. Picture by Julia Stepowska

Aimed at introducing the girls to the creative possibilities of Arduino electronics and programming, Ms Suliman used the Powerhouse Museum's custom microcontroller, the Thinker1, for a workshop  in which students learnt how to program an LED light display and a sound buzzer.

This is the first time the Powerhouse Museum has supported the Women in Engineering and IT Hands on Day, in collaboration with Joy's projects, ElectroCraft Sydney and Irresistible Learning.

There was a great response this year to an introduction to programming in Python, a new flexible programming language for web development, desktop applications and creating games.

Another new partnership was F1 in Schools. Offering a snapshot of the international racing competition for high schoolers, the F1 team worked with the girls in propelling pre-made model cars down a 25-metre track powered by Co2 gas canisters.

Promoting learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the F1 in Schools Program is the largest STEM competition in the world. It is managed in Sydney by the Sydney Business Education Partnerships Program which is a partner of the UTS Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology.

Now in its 32nd year, the faculty's Hands on Day for females has wide support from engineering and IT academics and researchers. 

Aware of the low numbers of female students in his mechatronics classes, Dr Sarath Kodagoda said, "These sorts of activities are great opportunities for high school students to explore engineering and make educated choices for their future."

Dr Kodagoda's research is in the field of brain and thought control of equipment, or structures on screen – a testament to the possibilities engineering has to offer. His popular workshop on mind control was just one of the advanced health technologies featured in the Hands on Day program.

School students also heard from undergraduates who were in their shoes just a couple of years ago.  Ashwini Ranjithabalan changed course for engineering after working with her father in her gap year installing a water treatment plant in an Indigenous community in northern NSW.

Feedback from the event confirmed its value for participants, with one Year 10 student citing the highlight for her was "discovering an interest in mechanics I didn't know I previously harboured."

A second said she had learnt that "women can do anything and that engineering isn't just about making machines – it's about creative innovation," while a third wrote, "I learnt that my gender, culture and race shouldn't limit my choices in life." 

Women in Engineering and IT Program Director Bronwyn Holland said, "Our feedback shows the enthusiasm for an inclusive, interactive technology experience, something that research has found is an important influencer on young women in their decision-making. 

"To win their confidence that engineering and IT could be the right choice, these experiences need to be matched by new education environments and far-sighted changes in industry and workplaces. 

"We are working on these fronts in collaboration with partners and thought leaders in education, industry and the professions."