Get ready to blast off! 🚀 Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) students are gearing up to shoot for the stars at this year’s STEM ‘Make A Difference’ (MAD) Showcase on Monday, 9 September.
With almost 50 schools and nearly 100 student teams participating, this will be BCE’s biggest Showcase yet!
From 3D trophy printing to live student podcasts and a partnership with Apple Education, students will be inspired to develop and learn skills needed for the future.
To add some extra star power, Tully Mahr, an Aerospace Engineering student, will join the event as our guest speaker.
Tully, a Gundungurra woman, is currently soaring through a Master of Mechanical Engineering with a specialisation in Aerospace at the University of Melbourne.
BCE Deputy Executive Director Durm O'Riordan, said with her expertise in Aerospace Engineering and her incredible stint at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, our students are in for a cosmic treat this year.
“Tully will take our students interstellar as she shares her experience working at NASA’s Origins and Habitability Laboratory,” he said.
“Our students won’t just learn about what might support life within our solar system and beyond; they’ll also discover the limitless possibilities of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, igniting their imaginations and ambitions for the future.
“With gender disparities in STEM fields in 2024, it is also our hope Tully will inspire and encourage the next generation of innovators and change makers.”
BCE Lead Education Advisor Rochelle Smith said STEM MAD was where excellence and equity enable our students to grow and thrive.
“It’s all about developing the essential skills for the future—analytical and creative thinking, resilience, flexibility, and a passion for lifelong learning,” she said.
“From emotional intelligence to clear communication and technological literacy, STEM MAD equips our students with the tools to thrive in a rapidly changing world.”
This year’s STEM MAD Showcase will enhance Student Voice in 2024 with exciting activities like student-led certificate design and 3D trophy printing competitions.
Students from Our Lady of the Angels at Wavell Heights will podcast live from the event, conducting interviews with teachers, students, and staff.
BCE has also partnered with Apple Education for this year’s STEM MAD event, which will see students from Siena Catholic College Sippy Downs cohost webinars on app design.
BCE’s Student Voice team will also take the stage as emcees for the event and will also lead the prayer at the beginning of the day.
About STEM MAD:
The STEM MAD Showcase is a celebration of student learning designed to acknowledge and promote STEM learning initiatives that address real-world problems and demonstrate the values of Catholic Schools; encouraging students to ‘Make A Difference’ (MAD) in the world by acting for justice and the common good.
This national Catholic Education initiative aligns with the papal call for action in Laudato Si': On Care for our Common Home.
About Tully Mahr:
Tully Mahr is a proud Gundungurra woman, STEM advocate, and professional speaker, currently studying her Master of Mechanical Engineering specialising in Aerospace at the University of Melbourne. With a Bachelor of Science from the Australian National University, Tully is passionate about the integration of science and engineering concepts to inform a unique and holistic approach to STEM research and development, specifically within the space industry. Similarly, she is interested in using her cultural background to integrate traditional Indigenous knowledge into modern scientific and space research.
Tully's educational and career journey has led her to some exciting opportunities, including completing an internship at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where she worked in the Origins and Habitability Laboratory in the Planetary Science division. Tully is an advocate for the representation of marginalised communities within STEM and aims to encourage and mentor the next generation of leaders, scientists, and engineers.