Date: Friday 24 November 2023, 9.00 am—4.30 pm AEDT
Venue: Deakin Downtown, Level 12, Tower 2 Collins Square, 727 Collins Street, Docklands and online (Zoom)
Cost: $100 pp in person (fully catered, $75 pp for AARE members and students). $20 pp online
Despite decades of research, investment and policy development, the issue of gender and STEM engagement remains intractable. The problem of participation in STEM is deeply complex and involves multiple influences that often constitute barriers to equitable participation in STEM. The STEM communities have had a focus on girls in STEM in particular across these decades leading to interventions at a number of levels including curricular and pedagogical responses, careers advice, the use of role models, special events and single sex classes. Yet thus far little to no substantive change has occurred.
This Summit aims to move discussion and action on the issue of gender and STEM forward through an exploration of recent theorisations of gender to interrogate the gender and STEM issue. In doing so, this Summit aims to open new perspectives that will inform a shift forward in gender equitable theorising and approaches to STEM education.
The Summit will form the basis for a position paper that will be communicated with relevant STEM organisations.
Objectives of the event:
• Exploring current research, debates and frameworks in terms of gender disparities within STEM fields.
• Examining current policies and practice and shaping the way forward.
• Exploring intervention initiatives and strategies for upscaling.
PROGRAM
9.00 am Welcome and introduction • Dr Victoria Millar, University of Melbourne
9.15 am Contemporary Perspectives on Gender and STEM • Professor Helen Watt, University of Sydney • Professor Kate Scantlebury, University of Melbourne • Mr Phil Kairns, Monash University
10.45 am Morning tea
11.00 am Policy and Practice on Gender and STEM • Professor Jill Blackmore, Deakin University • Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea, Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering • Dr Isabelle Kingsley, Office of the Women in STEM Ambassador
12.30 pm Lunch
1.15 pm Current Gender and STEM Initiatives and Interventions • Professor Kylie Smith, University of Melbourne • Assocociate Professor Linda Hobbs, Deakin University • Associate Professor Merryn McKinnon, Australian National University
2.30 pm Afternoon tea
3.00 pm Plenary discussion
4.30 pm Close
Posted Oct 5, 2023
Deakin Downtown, Level 12, Tower 2 Collins Square, 727 Collins Street, Docklands and online (Zoom)