Council helps local STEM students reach for the stars

Students from Amity College, John Edmondson High, Moorebank High and Cabramatta High Schools at the STEM forum hosted by Council.

11 September 2018

Liverpool City Council has hosted an exciting forum for a group of talented South West Sydney science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) high school students about to embark on a space tour of the United States.

The 12 students from Amity College in Prestons, Moorebank High, John Edmondson High in Horningsea Park and Cabramatta High met with key players from Council and from WSA Co – the company that is building and planning Sydney’s new international Airport at Badgerys Creek.

Council’s Manager Aerotropolis, Bruce Macnee told the students about the great place in history they enjoy as science enthusiasts in a region of Sydney that is undergoing a boom in that field.

Stevan Sipka, Executive Manager Aero Partnerships with WSA Co - the company that will build and operate Western Sydney Airport - gave the students an insight into what the new airport will bring to the region, inspiring them with some of the new technologies that will transform the way we travel.

Council CEO Kiersten Fishburn and Manager, Aerotropolis Bruce Macnee tell the students about the education and career opportunities to come of Western Sydney Airport and the Badgerys Creek Aerotropolis.

“It’s an exciting time for these young science enthusiasts with an interest in the aero industry,” said Mr Sipka, who is also a Cabramatta High School graduate. “Developments in areas such as long-range flight will drive significant transformation in the industry in coming years.”

Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said she was inspired by the number of bright young children in the Liverpool area who are already working towards their futures in STEM.

“I’m particularly pleased to see that so many girls in South West Sydney are interested in STEM and are taking part in the US Space Camp tour,” Mayor Waller said.

“We’ve listened to these students’ dreams of being astronauts, physicists, astronomers and pilots.

“They are looking to the skies, but now the chance to get there starts in their own backyard in the Aerotropolis with its STEM high school, aerospace institute and university.”

Thirty-two students in Years 9-12 from South West Sydney will take part in the enrichment tour of the Space Academy Program at the US Space and Rocket Centre in Alabama.

They will be led by Global Teacher Prize 2017 finalist Doctor Ken Silburn, a passionate advocate of STEM.

Doctor Silburn said: “This is the 10th year we have been organising the space camp and for the first time students are embarking on this tour knowing that the Aerotropolis is real.

“It will be a real place of learning from them in their own backyard. It’s going to give a big boost for our students and now, with Australia having a National Space Agency, the prospect of them being employed in space science is very real.”

The students will learn about the physical demands faced by astronauts. The students will also visit the California Science Centre and Washington Smithsonian Museums.

“I’m proud they’ll be representing us,” Mayor Waller said. “But I’m also looking forward to hearing from them when they get back and working with them as the Aerotropolis take shape.”

The students depart for the US on September 29 and return on 15 October.