• Previously-cancelled STEM Conference now to be held online from Monday 27 April
• Charles Sturt is an in-kind sponsor of the NSW Department of Education event
• Seven Charles Sturt educators will record video workshops for the event, which will be available as teaching resources

Registrations are open for the previously-cancelled ‘STEM 2020: Strategies for a Rapidly Changing World’ as the reformatted event moves to an online virtual teaching method to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions.

The NSW Department of Education’s first version of the now titled ‘STEM 2020 On Demand: Strategies for a Rapidly Changing World’ was cancelled when restrictions on gatherings were implemented because of COVID-19.

But organisers adapted and are embracing the online teaching forum, which will allow thousands of people to access videos and workshops by industry experts for at least a month.

Charles Sturt University is an in-kind sponsor of the event and seven of the University’s academics will record workshops for the conference.

Charles Sturt’s Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science Professor Megan Smith said the University was proud to be involved in an event that was delivering vital STEM information on a global platform.

“Charles Sturt University is a leading institute when it comes to the online delivery of learning, especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects,” she said.

“The University has a range of qualified academics who can share their knowledge to increase awareness of what the University is doing in innovation and research, and present study options for students looking to get into STEM careers.

“STEM 2020 On Demand gives participants the ability to have access to great scientific minds, despite their geographical location, which is crucial to the longevity of the industry by encouraging new students.”

Charles Sturt academics to participate in STEM 2020 Live Conference are:

• Senior Lecturer in Genetics and Gene Technologies in the School of Biomedical Sciences in Port Macquarie Dr Nigel Urwin. Dr Urwin will introduce participants to bioluminescence, the production of light by a range of living organisms, a common occurrence particularly in the marine environment.
• Senior Lecturer in Medical Imaging in the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences in Port Macquarie Mr Johnathan Hewis. Mr Hewis’s workshop will explore emerging trends in healthcare through medical imaging and examine the role of soft skills in healthcare education.
• Senior Engineer in Residence in the Engineering program in Bathurst Mr Peter Thew. Mr Thew will demonstrate how maths and spreadsheets apply in the real world and showcase tools available for teachers to make STEM classrooms fun and engaging.
• Lecturer in Exercise Science – Biomechanics in the School of Exercise Science, Sport and Health in Bathurst Dr Kerry Mann. Dr Mann will educate about how science, technology and mathematics combine in the field of exercise science and how the concepts can be brought into the classroom.
• Lecturer in Rural Health with Three Rivers University Department of Rural Health in Orange Dr Pip Southwell. Dr Southwell will discuss how STEM careers are applied in rural health and exploring how students’ strengths and interests can map to the diversity of careers in the sector.
• Co-facilitator and Project Lead of the eXtended Reality Centre in the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Wagga Wagga Professor Eleanor Gates-Stuart. Professor Gates-Stuart and the new eXtended Reality centre will showcase how teachers can empower STEM by including the arts.
• Co-facilitator and Lecturer in Animation and Visual Effects in the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Wagga Wagga Mr Andrew Hagan. Mr Hagan’s latest work is in real-time visualisation that combines art and science.

They will join some of the world’s leading experts in innovation and STEM, including Sir Ken Robinson, Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, Dr Jordan Nguyen, Ms Felicity Furey, Dr Alan Finkel, AO, Dr Jenine Beekhyzen, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, AO, Ms Suzy Urbaniak, and Mr Adam Spencer.

NSW Department of Education Project Leader of the STEM Industry School Partnership (SISP) Program Dr Scott Sleap said this format has allowed the program to be delivered for free on a much larger scale.

Dr Sleap said the involvement of Charles Sturt University allowed participants to benefit from the University’s experts in the field and organisers to learn about online teaching methods.

“Charles Sturt University has been amazing from when we started this concept,” he said.

“Charles Sturt understands regional Australia and they have been in the online learning space for a really long time so they were able to give us really good advice.”

Videos will be available from Monday 27 April and will have interactive elements through the conference app with more content expected to be uploaded over the course of the month.

Registrations are open and can be made on the Eventbrite website.