Get into STEM

What are the 8 principles for inclusive STEM education and how can they inform STEM teaching practice? In this episode, we explore the origins and evolution of the 8 (were 7) principles. We unpack the research behind their development, the challenges they were designed to address, and why educators are integral to advancing equity in STEM. You’ll get an overview of all eight principles, along with an exploration of how technology can be meaningfully integrated into STEM learningand the role of cultural context in STEM teaching. We also share practical ways teachers can bring these principles into their classroom teaching and how the principles can be used across whole school planning. Rebecca Vivian (she/her) Dr Rebecca Vivian is a Senior Research Fellow at the Computer Science Education Research (CSER) Group at Adelaide University on Kaurna Country. She specialises in STEM engagement, teacher professional learning and technology-enhanced education, with a strong focus on improving access and participation for underrepresented groups. Rebecca leads CSER’s national STEM education programs that have engaged over 60,000 teachers across Australia, helping to build more inclusive and innovative learning environments. Jackie Steffan (she/her) Jackie Steffan is a research associate in the CSER group and doctoral candidate at Adelaide University on Kaurna Country. Her research specialises in STEM education, educational psychology and immersive technology. Her work explores innovative teaching approaches and the role of emerging technologies in enhancing student learning. Jackie is also a registered teacher and a passionate advocate for equity in STEM. She has spoken publicly about the challenges underrepresented cohorts face and is focused on creating more inclusive and accessible education pathways for diverse learners. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we connect STEM teaching to students’ local environment? In this episode, we speak with award-winning primary school teacher Judith Stutchbury about how place-based learning can bring STEM to life. We explore her school’s involvement in the Reef Guardian Schools program and the Mon Repos Turtle Centre, the benefits of cluster teaching for regional schools and her book Hatch Saves the Reef. Biography: Judith Stutchbury is an award-winning primary school teacher, author and leader in science education. She is a passionate advocate for conservation and draws on the nearby Mon Repos turtle rookery in Queensland as a foundation for student learning, integrating marine, environmental and biological sciences across the curriculum. She is also the author of the children’s book Hatch Saves the Reef and in 2023 received the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Primary Schools, recognising her outstanding contributions to science education. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we better engage regional girls in STEM learning? In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Chapman, founder of STEM Changemakers and a leading advocate for equity in STEM education. With over two decades of experience in secondary teaching, Sarah reflects on the unique challenges faced by teachers and students in rural and remote communities, with a particular focus on how these barriers impact girls. We explore how initiatives like STEM Changemakers are creating new opportunities for regional girls, and what meaningful inclusion in STEM really looks like. Sarah Chapman is the founder of STEM Changemakers and the Townsville STEM Hub, initiatives that empower underrepresented regional Australian girls and communities in STEM. With over twenty years’ experience as a secondary science educator and science head of department, she also serves as co‑chair of Women in STEMM Australia and a board member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Sarah’s work has earned numerous honours, including the Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in Secondary Schools and a Commonwealth Bank Teaching Award Fellowship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can school leaders make a real difference in the quality of their school’s STEM learning? Professor Kim Beswick joins us to talk about what strong STEM leadership looks like, and the role principals can play building a strong STEM learning culture in the school community. Kim also highlights the barriers schools often encounter, particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities, the influence of teacher expectations on student outcomes, and shares examples of how effective leadership can lift STEM engagement across a whole school. Links: Principals as STEM Leaders (PASL) PASL case studies About Professor Kim Beswick Professor Kim Beswick is a leading Australian education researcher with a focus on mathematics education and equity in schools. She was a secondary school maths teacher for 13 years, working in rural and regional schools. Her research explores the role that school leadership plays in STEM education, and how teachers’ beliefs can shape classroom practice, especially in disadvantaged communities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we connect what students learn in the classroom with what STEM looks like in the real world? We explore the CSIRO’s STEM Professionals in Schools program with Martin Jellinek, unpacking how the program helps bridge the gap between classroom teaching and STEM industry practice. We discuss the program’s structure, the flexible supports available to schools, and the powerful role that STEM role models can play in engaging students in STEM pathways. Martin also highlights the rich possibilities that co-designing with industry experts can offer, particularly for teachers working out of field. We’re then joined by primary school teacher Sarah Todd, who shares her experience bringing STEM professionals into her school and how these partnerships have strengthened her own teaching. We look at the impact of student-led STEM projects, as she tells us about how her students’ bandicoot-monitoring project led to real change in their local community. Links: https://www.csiro.au/en/education/Programs/STEM-Professionals-in-Schools-Program About Martin Jellinek Martin Jellinek is an experienced STEM educator and curriculum leader who now works with CSIRO’s STEM Professionals in Schools program. He draws on his extensive background in teaching and STEM leadership to help build meaningful partnerships between Australian educators and industry professionals. About Sarah Todd Sarah Todd is a primary school teacher and science specialist from a South Australian public school and a longtime participant in the STEM Professionals in Schools program. She takes a hands-on, inquiry-driven approach to environmental education, with a particular passion for biodiversity projects and connecting students with the natural world. A 2025 SASTA Honour Award recipient and winner of the 2023 SASTA Outstanding Contribution to the Teaching of Science Award, Sarah is recognised for inspiring authentic STEM learning that empowers students to make real change in their local community. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.