GroundProbe and Orica join forces to provide a $300,000 STEM grant to support regional Queensland schools

GroundProbe, a Brisbane-based global market leader in real-time geohazard monitoring technologies, is immensely proud to have helped facilitate a $300,000 grant from the Orica Impact Fund to help positively impact the teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to schools and communities within the Bowen Basin, Mount Isa and Gladstone regions.

GroundProbe CEO and founder, David Noon, said that the funding, to be allocated over three years, will be used to deliver the highly successful Wonder of Science (WoS) program to more than 20 Bowen Basin, Mount Isa and Gladstone regional schools in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

WoS has successfully showcased the benefits of STEM educational culture in schools and communities for more than 10 years. They bring STEM to life for school students aged nine to fifteen by inspiring and encouraging them to participate through their Young Science Ambassadors mentoring program, activities and conferences. The program is hosted by the University of Queensland and supported by several prestigious partners, including the Queensland Government, the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering (ATSE), and Rio Tinto.

The program will provide young students, especially girls from minority groups and disadvantaged backgrounds, with the opportunity to develop their educational capabilities for STEM careers, learn from role models and ultimately encourage them to achieve and succeed.

When asked about GroundProbe and Orica’s support of the program, Mr Noon said, …

“We are thrilled to help encourage young school students to build their STEM skills in problem-solving, including critical, creative collaborative and ethical thinking.”

Motivating all involved is the fact that pre-COVID, the Australian Industry Group (AI Group) noted that ~75% of the fastest-growing jobs in Australia require STEM skills, yet we are not meeting the quota. According to AI Group, industry has been concerned for some time about the supply of STEM-qualified participants entering the workforce. Together they believe that developing a STEM-qualified workforce starts in schools, with educators playing a vital role in spreading awareness and providing STEM programs for students in concert with industry. In addition, they believe there will be a subsequent knock-on effect through direct association positively affecting the broader local community, including teachers, parents, guardians and siblings.

Ultimately, the goal of this initiative between GroundProbe and Orica is to encourage local school students to recognise their great potential and fall in love with STEM. Together we hope to build a strong, local future workforce here in regional Queensland.

Note: For more information contact Lisa.Cronqvist@groundprobe.com

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