STEM Aboriginal Learner Congress

Cultural Innovators

Over two days students from across South Australia participated in an exciting and diverse range of STEM activities and workshops. Workshops were hosted at the Adelaide Convention Centre and various off-site locations. The theme was ‘Cultural Innovators’

• Cultural-relating to and respecting the 60,000-plus years of Aboriginal scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.
• Innovators- signalling that students are the change-making generation. Innovators acknowledge their responsibility to do things differently and attempt things that have never been done before. They are the changemakers who embrace ideas and create environments to challenge the status quo, push boundaries, and achieve growth. 

Thursday 10th of August 

Millie, Natalie, Steele and Mrs Wray attended the STEM Aboriginal Learner Congress. Uncle Moogy welcomed us to country which was followed by a dance by students from Christies Beach PS which acknowledged past wrongdoings and encouraged reconciliation. It was amazing!

Peter Malinaskas also addressed the students sharing his ideas and wishes for the future. 

Our first keynote speaker was Daniel Riley who is the current artistic director of the Australian Dance Theatre. We enjoyed hearing his thoughts on STEM innovation through dance, music, and storytelling. 

We then went on a safari to the Adelaide Zoo. There, students had to solve clues and use their map-reading skills to explore the zoo. We loved seeing the animals! 

Our final keynote speaker for the day was from Mikaela Jade, who is the founder and CEO of Indigital. She was very inspiring and showed us that by being curious, hardworking, and having great relationships with others, anything is possible. 

Friday 11th of August

Our first keynote speaker was Nathan Noel who works in environment protection. He shared his journey to becoming a marine biologist and some valuable advice, which was ‘if you don’t know what to do, then do something.’ 

We then attended our first workshop which was called “Be Water Wise.” Students learnt about how Aboriginal people traditionally collected and filtered water. Students then designed and made their own filtration system. Millie, Steele and Natalie used plastic cups, plastic bottles, tape, blue tak and cup filters to create their own filtration device. 

Our second workshop was called “Don’t Rock the Boat.” Students learnt about traditional canoe making and the importance of buoyancy and stability. They then worked to construct a canoe out of bark, sticks, string, tape and blue tak. Students then tested their canoes to see which canoe would hold the most weight. 

Our final keynote speaker was Corey Tutt from Deadly Science. Corey founded a non-profit organisation that provides STEM resources to remote schools in Australia and connects young Indigenous people with STEM professionals. He was named the NSW Young Australian of the Year and a Human Rights Hero by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Corey has also published a book called The First Scientists which was awarded the Australian Book Industry Award Books. 

Congratulations to our students on a wonderful two days of innovative and creative thinking and learning in the area of STEM!