Trip STEMs from excellent scores

Bunbury Senior High School Year 9 student Hannah Thomas will follow in the footsteps of three of her peers after being selected as part of the Curious Minds Program due to her excellent maths NAPLAN scores.

The program will see 54 Year 8 and Year 9 girls from around Australia visit the University of Sydney for the summer school program and enable them to explore all aspects of science, technology, engineering and maths through guest lectures, interactive sessions, practicals and field trips.

They will be mentored by female scientists and mathematicians with the aim to develop a love of these disciplines and to encourage the students to continue with these courses into higher education and beyond.

Hannah follows Emma Patterson and Emma Lush in 2016 and Kerrilie Haberfield in 2015.

“The highlight of the trip for me was meeting people who work in STEM jobs and are so passionate about what they do,” Emma Patterson said.

“The love they show for their jobs is so inspirational and encouraged me to find a job where I am as passionate about my work as they are.”

Hannah said she was “a little afraid but mostly excited” to be selected and had already sought advice from her peers.

“I think the best part will be seeing all the scientists and getting inspiration from them,” she said.