Article by Helen Link, General Manager of Engineers Australia Newcastle.
Recent predictions for the next 15 to 20 years state 40% of jobs around today will disappear. Does that mean we will have 40% higher unemployment? Will robots have taken over?
Maybe not. As new innovations take place, new jobs will be created and a high percentage of these jobs will require workers to have sound skills in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Somebody has to ‘drive’ the robot!
Newcastle has been seen as the face of the coal industry for hundreds of years and with this industry declining we need to, now more than ever, encourage those with innovative ideas to turn them into reality. We need to be constantly inventing, coming up with new ideas and turning them in to job opportunities. There is no doubt we need to support innovation.
As a nation, we need to create the next generation of innovators by encouraging our young students to take up STEM based subjects at school. Knowledge and skills in STEM are essential to ensure that we are not left behind in the ‘innovation age’.
Engineering innovation starts at school, says Stephen Durkin, Chief Executive Officer of Engineers. “Investing in STEM education is imperative to create a better future for Australia.”
Engineers Australia is committed to building tomorrow’s engineers through hands-on school programs such as EngQuest. EngQuest allows lower primary to middle year students to participate in educational STEM activities. This successful initiative is delivered free of charge to Australian schools, and has had more than 100,000 students participate every year since 2014.
Engineers Australia Newcastle’s Education Subcommittee is strongly supporting STEM at schools in the region. We are working closely with educators and industry to create awareness of opportunities in engineering among students.
We would like to encourage you to attend the upcoming ‘Leveraging a STEM Workforce’ conference supported by Engineers Australia Newcastle. This one-day event taking place on 13 April will feature keynote addresses by NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Professor Mary O'Kane and Google Australia and New Zealand's Engineering Community and Outreach Manager, Sally-Ann Williams.