Inspiring Futures: Year 10 Girls Explore Engineering with UQ and CQU Guest Speakers

Recently, our Year 10 cohort was given the exciting opportunity to learn about the world of engineering through an engaging and insightful presentation delivered by the University of Queensland’s women in engineering team. The session included a fun and thought–provoking cookie challenge – a hands-on activity in which we were tasked with removing all chocolate chips from a cookie without leaving a mess around our workspace or leaving residue on the chocolate. This exercise effectively illustrated the precision and problem–solving abilities required in real-world engineering.

The UQ team not only sparked interest with this innovative challenge but also explained what it’s like for women to pursue employment in a traditionally male–dominated field.  Their inspiring stories and encouragement served as a reminder that engineering is more than simply science and math – it’s about innovation, teamwork and developing practical solutions that have an influence on everyday life.

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As a part of this experience, we also had the honour of hearing from two inspiring female engineers from CQU. Both women shared valuable insights into their careers, including the wide range of projects they’ve been involved in and the pathways that have led them into the engineering field. They spoke openly about the challenges and rewards of working in the industry. Their personal stories demonstrated how effort and persistence can lead to meaningful careers that make a difference in the world.

This experience gave many of us a fresh perspective on what engineering can be – dynamic, creative and open to everyone. For the girls in our cohort especially, it was a powerful reminder that there’s a place for us in STEM, and that with the right support and determination, we can lead the way in building a better future.

Georgia

Year 10