Fulcrum Robotics gives Taroona High @UTAS program students insight on future of jobs in STEM

The hi-tech world of robotics is breaking new ground in Tasmania. See how a career in STEM has already inspired our young Tasmanians.

Helen Lawrence, Emma Savage and Ben Scott with a Submersible ROV at Margate for the Fulcrum open day. (Supplied: Linda Higginson)

The hi-tech world of robotics is breaking new ground in Tasmania in education and environmental research.

Students from the Taroona High @UTAS program recently gained an insight into the role of one of the state’s emerging robotics providers.

Margate-based company Fulcrum Robotics specialises in land, aquatic and aerial robotics technology, with clients across Tasmania and nationally.

A key focus for the company is environmental technology robotics: using unmanned vehicles to address environmental challenges.

Fulcrum environmental officer Emma Savage is one of the company’s experts, showing the potential of unmanned robotics for the environment.

Fulcrum Director Janelle Larkin with a commercial drone. (Supplied: Linda Higginson)

Ms Savage graduated from the University of Tasmania with First Class Honours in Marine and Antarctic Studies in 2022.

She said a chance research project in her degree exposed her to working with unmanned robots.

“I worked with ROVs (remotely operated vehicles) on a ship for a research project,” Ms Savage said.

“I hadn’t seen myself as a technological person, but this experience opened my eyes.

“When I graduated, a job popped up at Fulcrum and I took it.”

Ms Savage has grown in her new position to become one of the main ROV pilots for the environmental team and passed along her experience to students on the day.

“I feel like if I had seen the position that I am doing now when I graduated school, I would have been on an entirely different study and career path,” she said.

“I hope that the opportunities like the open day show students the different areas of focus and growing areas they can work in from STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths.”

Students operated ROVs, watched demonstrations and attended workshops.

Taroona High year 12 student Ben Scott said the exposure showed the opportunities in STEM careers.

Fulcrum Robotics Environmental Officer Emma Savage. Year 11 student Helen Lawrence and Year 12 student Ben Scott. Supplied: Linda Higginson

“There’s not just one field in STEM,” he said.

“Some of the technology we saw today I knew and would love to do for a career, but some I had never even thought about being needed – like the underwater vehicles.”

Mr Scott completed a Certificate III in Aviation last year and is now working towards completing an Engineering and Design Level 3 course in his final year of study.

“I would love to work in aviation,” he said. “I thought before the open day that there would be more opportunity for those careers interstate or even internationally … (but) there’s definitely more on the table here in Tassie.”