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ECU Professor inspires at STEMM empowerment event for girls in the Southwest

Tuesday, 05 September 2023

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  • Woman standing infront of a powerpoint screen

    Professor Cobie Rudd presents at STEMXX event

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Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures) and Vice-President, Professor Cobie Rudd, provided a compelling keynote address, opening an event for Southwest girls from Years 5-9 entitled ‘STEMXX: A STEM Event for Girls’ on 26 August 2023.  Professor Rudd was invited by to present  by the Science Teachers’ Association of Western Australia (STAWA), and the event was hosted  at the Bunbury Catholic College Campus with a key purpose of encouraging the pursuit of STEM subjects and careers beyond the classroom for young girls.

Established in 1944, STAWA is an independent association of Science Educators dedicated to promoting science and science teaching in Western Australia. The full-day session gave the girls the opportunity to meet with female scientists and STEM professionals from industry and research facilities as well as engage in workshops with hands-on STEM experience.

Professor Rudd’s address talked about careers for women in STEM(M), including her own career; her journey to date across numerous roles and how she built resilience along the way through the challenges and barriers faced.

“Sometimes you may fail – but you must be resilient and look at the positives you gain out of it. As without that perspective on life and the resilience that has come with it, I may never have got back up from some of my failures.”

As ECU, Professor Rudd has spearheaded the University’s participation in the internationally recognised gender equality accreditation Athena Swan (administered by Science in Australia Gender Equity Ltd – SAGE) which is committed to creating inclusive workplaces and advancing people of all genders in academia. Athena Swan Institutional Bronze Award holders since 2018, the University was the first institution in Australia to receive the inaugural SAGE Cygnet Award in 2022. ECU is currently on the Silver Award pathway having already completed two of five required SAGE Cygnet Awards.

For more information about ECU’s commitment to gender equality, visit the webpage or contact the Athena Swan Team at athenaswanaustralia@ecu.edu.au.

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