What do fluorescent bacteria, steel beams, and acoustic guitars all have in common?
They are part of various projects our Women in STEM Ambassadors have undertaken while studying at RMIT that they credit with furthering their love of the field.
Priya Singh, a current PhD student and Women in STEM Ambassador, said that it was exciting to integrate her love of music and physics during her studies.
“For one of my master’s lab subjects, we designed an optical fibre-based acoustic sensor for a guitar... Such sensors can be used in structural health monitoring to detect vibrations and stresses in buildings and bridges,” she said.
As an Ambassador, Priya hopes to share stories like these to inspire young women to see how interesting STEM courses and careers can be.
For me, being an Ambassador is about raising awareness and encouraging young girls to engage in STEM.
Priya, Women in STEM Ambassador and PhD student (Applied Physics).
Our Ambassadors are female RMIT students who run STEM-related workshops at high schools.
They provide personal insights into their experiences in STEM and university life in general, to encourage young learners to pursue STEM.
Representation in STEM is a key issue, with women making up only 27% of Australia’s STEM workforce.
To increase participation in STEM among women, it is important to break down gender stereotypes and invite young women to explore the possibilities of a career in STEM.
Women in STEM Ambassador Aneta Jahola said that knowing what careers are out there from a young age is valuable for girls.
I wish I knew more about the different pathways available to get into STEM when I was younger.
Aneta, who is a mother of two young kids, was forced to leave her home country due to war and knows how difficult it can be to restart your educational journey. As an Ambassador, she helps young women engage with STEM, no matter what their pathway may look like.
Aneta, Women in STEM Ambassador and Advanced Diploma Engineering Technology graduate and current Bachelor of Engineering (Civil and Infrastructure) (Honours) student.
Fellow Ambassador Sophie Bridges said that because STEM is so broad, having the opportunity to introduce students to new areas is important.
STEM is so broad... To me, being a Women in STEM Ambassador is about igniting curiosity in younger girls and showing them that they have a place in any area of STEM.
Diversity in STEM Outreach Coordinator at RMIT Tara Graves echoed this.
“We have surveying workshops – lots of students don’t even know surveying exists.”
“The program is about showing high school students that it could be an option for them,” said Tara.
In addition to making a difference in the lives of young people, our Ambassadors grow their professional skills and personal networks through the program, which sets them up well for life at RMIT and beyond.
“I feel more confident in my studies now, as I’ve had more conversations with RMIT staff and got to know other students,” said double-degree Bachelor of Applied Science (Aviation)/Bachelor of Business student Emma Dora Rusinovic.
The Women in STEM Ambassadors program has helped me build my skills as a leader and facilitator.
“I have also created connections that I know are going to last well beyond university,” Emma said.
If you have questions about the program or want to get involved, contact stemm.women@rmit.edu.au.
RMIT's Women in STEM Ambassadors are current female students who are passionate about inspiring the future generation of scientists and innovators, and are a voice for STEM at RMIT.
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
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