Girls in Tech Expo demonstrates how STEM events can be game-changers for student engagement
There’s something magical about watching a student discover a future they didn’t know existed. One minute they’re patting a robotic dog. The next, they’re talking to a cybersecurity expert, coding a robot, exploring AI, or asking a university researcher what they actually do all day.
Designed for Year 5 and 6 girls, the Girls in Tech Expo was created to reach students at a sweet spot in their development: curiosity is high, confidence is still forming, and ideas about future careers are only just beginning to take shape.
Led by St Peter’s Girls’ School, the Expo brought together 8 schools across Adelaide, showing how schools can come together around common goals. The aim wasn’t simply to showcase technology. It was to create opportunities for students to explore, question, experiment and imagine their future place in STEM.
Most importantly, what did students think of Girls in Tech? “I was never that interested in STEM until I got there and I realised how fun it is!” says Melody, a Year 6 student.
And the best part? Any school can take inspiration from the model.
Start with wow
At Girls in Tech Expo, students were greeted by Alpha, a robotic dog who quickly became the unofficial celebrity of the day. It sounds simple, but the first interaction sets the tone for student participation.
Whether it’s a robot, a drone demonstration, a VR headset or an engineering challenge, creating a memorable STEM event begins with something that instantly sparks curiosity and invites students to jump in.
Make STEM hands-on
On the day, students moved beyond passive learning into active discovery with a range of workshops. They coded. Built. Tested. Analysed. Problem-solved.
The girls tackled cybersecurity challenges, programmed robotics, explored engineering design, analysed GIS mapping data and stepped into virtual simulations.
The best STEM events offer moments of concentration, collaboration, and plenty of satisfying ‘aha!’ moments when something suddenly clicks.
Bring real-world STEM professionals into the room
Throughout the day at Girls in Tech, students connected directly with researchers, engineers, cybersecurity specialists, entrepreneurs and university representatives. It’s about real conversations, with real people.
“We [industry professionals] can continue to encourage girls into STEM by showing them how STEM can be applicable to anything – music, art, English, etc, and the value of being well-rounded in skills and interests,” says STEM Punks Engineer and Girls in STEM participant, Gwyneth de Guia.
For schools planning their own STEM expo, this is where partnerships can make all the difference. Local universities, industry organisations, start-ups and community groups are often eager to connect with students and share what STEM careers actually look like.
Create space for conversations
Informal conversations can help turn STEM careers from abstract ideas into tangible possibilities. At Girls in Tech, there was a Future Me – Big Sister STEM Mentor Zone.
“The questions the girls asked were sharp and creative – and they leant into their intuition to try and decode what we did before we gave them the answers!” says Lucy Bloomfield, from ThincLab, who took part as a Big Sister STEM Mentor.
With STEM mentors, students can ask the questions they really want answered, like:
- What is it like studying engineering?
- How did you get into cybersecurity?
- What’s your favourite part of your job?
- Were you always good at maths?
No question is out of bounds!
Let students lead
St Peter’s Girls’ School’s Year 5 and 6 ambassadors – known as APEX leaders – guided visitors through the Expo. They helped workshops run smoothly while modelling confidence, leadership and a genuine enthusiasm for STEM.
If you’re planning a STEM expo, don’t underestimate the power of student ambassadors. Giving students ownership not only builds leadership skills, it helps create a welcoming and relatable experience for young participants.
The ripple effect of a STEM expo
Most importantly, as the day unfolded for Girls in Tech, students encouraged one another, shared discoveries, and tackled challenges together. What began as playful exploration evolved into deeper engagement with complex ideas, across school communities, and into the future.
A STEM expo doesn’t need to be enormous to make an impact. Not every school has access to a robotic dog, but bringing schools together like this is one way to pool resources. But no matter the size of the event, STEM is perfect for creating opportunities for students to explore, connect and imagine.
