The Army Drone Racing Team and the Sir Lawrence Wackett Defence and Aerospace Center (SLWDAC) at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) partnered to create a program designed to encourage young women to have careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Thirty Year 9–12 secondary school girls participated in the first RMIT Girls in Aerospace and Defense program at the RMIT Bundoora Campus during some of their summer vacations.
A year ten student, Adiba thought it was a fun and worthwhile experience.
Adiba, a Melbourne Victory football player who immigrated to Australia from Afghanistan in 2022, learned about the opportunity while enrolled in a three-month English language course.
“When my application was approved, I was ecstatic. Adiba added, “I have gained so much knowledge from Army Drone Racing Team and RMIT personnel, as well as an understanding of what a career in this industry may entail.
Jo Zimpel, the curator of RMIT SLWDAC innovation, reported that the applicant’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive.
The students are incredibly excited, and there has been enormous interest in the curriculum, according to Dr Zimpel.
Due to high volume of applications we received and the program’s success, we intend to offer two additional courses this year.
Sapper Alex Brown, the captain of the Army Drone Racing Team, was astonished by the kids’ growth and level of expertise in just a few days.
The involvement of this group of young women in drone construction, coding, and problem-solving has been incredibly motivating, according to Sapper Brown.
The Army Drone Racing Team works to involve as many young people as it can, showing them how much fun drone racing is and how much STEM professions have to offer in the future.
