It’s Rocket Science program comes to Shalom College, Bundaberg

An exciting program has visited a Bundaberg school to give First Nations students a hands on introduction to rocket science. Watch the video.

The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation brought STEM to Shalom College on Wednesday, October 12 to give First Nations students a hands on introduction to rocket science.

Foundation secretariat director Michael Nayler said there was a huge gap in science and learning opportunities for regional and First Nation’s students, and hoped the It’s Rocket Science program would help bridge that gap.

“We’re connecting strongly back to aboriginal culture and history as well,” he said.

The program was offered to First Nations and non-indigenous students from years 7-11 and included three individual sessions, including tracking, aerodynamics and rocket launching.

The tracking session was led by project officer Teagan Olssen, a proud Waradjuri woman.

As a student of forensic investigation she introduces students to the scientific side of tracking, and Mr Nayler said having examples of Indigenous success such as Miss Olssen is hugely important.

Students launched the rockets on the oval and competed for the furthest launch.

“It’s about seeing those possibilities for themself as a young person, and building the idea in the kids’ minds that they can do it,” he said.

The program also offered a session with retired pilot Cran Middlecoat and It’s Rocket Science director who taught the students the importance of aerodynamics and mathematics in the sky.

Mr Nayler then ran a rocket launching session and students were given the challenge of launching their rocket the furthest.

Shalom's Indigenous education liaison Isabella Bundesen said programs such as Its Rocket Science offered educational opportunities many regional students miss out on.

“We miss out on a lot of the more advanced programs that some of the bigger cities get, being a smaller school such as Shalom the students aren’t exposed to many career opportunities in STEM,” the proud Garumngar and Bundjalung woman said.

“It’s great that they actually come and work with the First Nations kids.”

Shalom students are given the task of working out the perfect water and air ratio for rocket launching.

With more than 80 students part of the Shalom College First Nations program, Miss Bundesen said programs such as It’s Rocket Science offered learning opportunities they may never be able to access outside of school.

“It helps our kids know there are fields and career pathways in STEM,” she said.

The program also works alongside universities such as University of Queensland and James Cook University to offer STEM camps for students.

“The program connects kids with opportunities to travel to big cities, and experience a STEM camp and work on a university campus,” Mr Nayler said.

The program visited a handful of regional schools already, and will head to Cairns next.