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The results are in—mentoring schoolgirls in STEM subjects in Year 9 can encourage greater interest in physics, chemistry, technology and higher math in senior secondary years.

A new study tracked 46 participants in a Flinders University STEM enrichment program in 2019 and found 91% of them had chosen traditional STEM subjects in their senior secondary years.

The article, "Effectiveness of enrichment program in increasing middle grade girls' interest to pursue physics studies and STEM careers," has been in Â鶹ÒùÔºics Education.

The study found an overall increase in career interest in STEM subjects following the one-day "Real Science" days and a significant overall increase in career interest in STEM following the university's 2021 STEM Enrichment Academy conference.

"As well, the enrichment program appeared especially beneficial among girls from regional South Australia, who previously expressed less motivation to pursue STEM careers than metropolitan students," says STEM Enrichment Academy founder, Professor of Â鶹ÒùÔºics Maria Parappilly, from the College of Science and Engineering.

The program offers three different STEM enrichment models—from the one-day Real Science Day and Design and Technology workshops to concentrated three-day STEM Enrichment Conference—which Professor Parappilly says are fulfilling the goal of inspiring more students to pursue STEM subjects at school and at university.

A total of more than 1,900 Year 9 schoolgirls have taken part in various enrichment programs since the project launched in late 2018, including 371 girls from the Northern Territory and regional South Australia during the second phase of the project, which started in May 2023.

Professor Parappilly says the pioneering program is helping to steer more Year 9 schoolgirls to study subjects such as Specialist Math and Â鶹ÒùÔºics in Year 11 and Year 12—aspiring to enroll in tertiary degree courses such as engineering, space, astrophysics and nuclear physics, biomedicine, architecture and laboratory sciences.

"Unlike some overseas countries, the gender divide in some STEM subjects is expanding in Australia," says founding director Professor Parappilly. "In fact, Year 11 and Year 12 physics enrollments have declined for both girls and boys in most states.

"Current literature suggests that compared to boys, girls seem less interested in science, attach less importance to science and feel less confident of their science capabilities.

"But we can tackle these perceptions if we can give middle school students more confidence through role-model interventions, a sense of belonging, enjoyment for the subject, opportunities in STEM, and the vision for a future in STEM from a younger age."

The program has received two consecutive Australian Government grants, from the Department of Industry Science and Resources "Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship" and Department of Education.

The STEM Enrichment Academy has also supported 263 teachers from 79 different schools. The Â鶹ÒùÔºics Skills Enhancement micro-credential course is offered by Flinders University to teachers around Australia.

"Early indications show that the program is effectively boosting teachers' confidence in delivering physics through hands-on methods," adds Professor Parappilly. "Teachers reported that it equipped them to utilize unused science equipment in their schools and affirmed that the course was meeting their needs for future teaching."

Teacher enrollments more than doubled for the second intake, with participation from around South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, NSW, and as far as East Pilbara, Margaret River and Broome in Western Australia

More broadly, Professor Parappilly says more training and education opportunities will improve gender balance in STEM which, in turn, will ultimately enhance the economy via increased productivity and innovation.