More about GALS

Program Aims

The Program involves girls undertaking a project focusing on a local industry need. Girls work with local female scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs, Deakin University STEM educators, tertiary students and their teachers. The overall goal is to foster girls’ interests in STEM and entrepreneurship, develop STEM skills and knowledge, and build their professional networks. The program aims to:

• expose girls to the existence of alternative education pathways and a wide range of rewarding STEM occupations

• change the culture of participating schools (leaders, teachers and students), and of broader community to acknowledge STEM as an alternative career pathway for girls.

• to foster an environment where girls are seen as future leaders and entrepreneurs in STEM

• involve various stakeholders in education and industry

• strengthen STEM teaching pedagogy, use ‘real-world’ STEM scenarios

• involve industry partnerships in knowledge transfer into education

Girls’ Involvement

Girls from years 5-8 participate in an extra-curricular activity where they respond to an identified industry issue or need. Working in small groups, with teacher support, the girls develop solutions using an engineering design process, and share their responses using models and designed communication posters.

The girls’ project outputs are launched at a public space (such as a town library) and placed on display for a period to ensure community engagement with the key ideas. Recognition of the girls as leaders in STEM is an important component of the project, so communication of their successful efforts to the broader community is a necessary aspect.