Innovative STEM program takes off for 2022

Tuesday, 29 March 2022

Penrith City Council is proud to announce the successful STEM Community Partnerships Program (CPP) is underway for 2022.

A joint venture with the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the program sees Year 9 and 10 students engage with industry professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) jobs as they take on inquiry-based projects, exploring solutions to real-world challenges.

Students from eight local schools participated in the STEM CPP last year and worked closely with local businesses to investigate various community issues such as challenges around water, heat stress, transport and the Aerotropolis.

Penrith Mayor Tricia Hitchen encouraged local businesses to get involved and said the program hugely benefits young people in our City.

“The STEM Community Partnerships Program is a fantastic initiative which forms part of a $25 million NSW Government funding commitment to upskill and create pathways for students,” Cr Hitchen said.

“This is a rare and exciting opportunity for students as they undertake relevant, hands-on research as part of their inquiry-based projects with support from industry leaders – experiences like this give the leaders of tomorrow a chance to shine and really extend themselves.

“Council is proud to partner with CSIRO to deliver this program and we are calling on representatives from businesses in the Penrith LGA who can pass on invaluable skills and knowledge through mentoring, site visits, work experience and local careers events.

“We look forward to learning more about the challenges the students for 2022 will tackle and are eager to hear about their innovative solutions in the coming months.”

Council recently joined CSIRO for a virtual Industry Engagement Workshop to launch this year’s educational program, giving local businesses and industry representatives more information about how to get involved in the program.

Participating students and their schools will reveal their project results at the Showcase event in late 2022.

This is the second year that Council and CSIRO have partnered to deliver the STEM CPP program in Penrith. It is a three-year partnership which was brought to the Penrith region following Council’s successful Cooling the City Masterclass in 2019.

To find out more about the program, visit www.csiro.au/en/education/Programs/Generation-STEM/STEMCPPschools

Information contained within this news release was correct as at Tuesday, 29 March 2022.