Katherine girls were flying high this week as part of a Department of Education initiative.
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About 90 school girls took their skills to new heights.
She Flies, a Queensland based company, will be conducting its popular Drone Day Teaser program over two days.
Girls in grades five to twelve learned how to stay safe around drones and how to fly one.
They’ll also learned how to program their drone to follow their commands to trial miniaturized but ‘real-world’ applications such as aerial photographic survey; skills essential to monitor our environment, particularly the Great Barrier Reef.
“The students don’t need to have any prior experience, but by the end of the session they’ll be confident using the technology and they’ll know how to make it work for them, whether they’re using a drone to conduct a scientific mission or just having fun,” She Flies co-founder and chief education officer, Dr Karen Joyce.
She Flies is an initiative that originated in Cairns and has since gathered interest and support around the country.
They have 12 instructors around the country, including Tamarah King, who was bought up in Katherine and who returned to teach kids there the She Flies Program.
Dr Joyce, a senior lecturer at James Cook University in Cairns, says it’s all about girls exploring science and technology and perhaps planning a future in that area.
“We aim to overcome the idea that STEM subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths – are just for boys. We going to beat that by giving girls a safe environment to try their skills, fun activities to help them develop and apply their knowledge, and excellent role models to work with.”
“Opening up STEM studies and careers to girls in remote and regional areas is an important part of our program,” Dr Joyce said.
“Those subjects lead to careers in growth areas and we don’t want girls from Northern Australia to miss out on those opportunities.
“Technology is becoming increasingly important in many of the traditional industries in regional Australia, and we need to be using the full capacity of our workforce.”
For more information about She Flies: http://www.sheflies.com.au/
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
