The trends towards greater mechanisation, automation, and precision in agriculture mean that engineering is more important for agriculture in Australia than ever before.

However, in agriculture, 32 per cent of the workforce is female, and in engineering, only 14 per cent.

Women are disproportionately underrepresented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

The University of Western Australia's Student Equity program Girls in Engineering (GiE) is on a mission to overcome this gender imbalance.

Image: High school students engaging with a hands-on activity at the 2021 Discovery Day.

The GiE outreach team inspires and empowers female students to take advantage of STEM study and its available career pathways.

The program’s three core aims are to demystify what engineering means, challenge stereotypes of women in STEM fields, and ultimately increase female STEM enrolments – including in engineering and agricultural science.

A key focus for GiE is addressing the barrier of a lack of role models for women in STEM.

School of Engineering Associate Professor Sally Thompson, who is a co-leader of The UWA Institute of Agriculture’s research theme Water for Food Production, said engineering was a “super rewarding” career for women.

“Engineers are influential, they do cool stuff, never stop learning, and they’re well paid,” Associate Professor Thompson said.

“Having girls meet female engineer role models in high school really helps increase their interest and confidence in following an engineering path.

“Our success in attracting girls to engineering at UWA is boosted hugely by the activities from Girls in Engineering.”

The GiE Student Ambassador program facilitates gender-inclusive, hands-on activities for high school students, hosts on-campus STEM immersion Discovery Days and provides opportunities for participants to gain workforce experience with industry partners.

Image: Girls in Engineering participants (front) with Associate Professor Sally Thompson (far left) and industry representatives (back) at the 2021 Discovery Day event.

GiE Student Ambassador Sie-Anne Waisime is passionate about volunteering with the program.

“I want to be part of changing the perceptions girls have about engineering and get them excited about a challenging yet rewarding career,” Ms Waisime said.

All female and non-binary UWA STEM students are invited to volunteer with GiE.

Addressing the need to increase women in STEM is a complex social issue that requires a collaborative solution. If you are interested in being part of that solution, contact [email protected]