The Faculty of EAIT has been recognised with a 2025 Peter Doherty Award for Outstanding STEM Education Partnership by the Queensland Department of Education, a major accolade that celebrates the impact of its high school outreach programs across the state.
Coordinating the award-winning program is EAIT’s Marketing Manager, Helen Burdon, who accepted the award on behalf of a dedicated team of academics, researchers, and support staff. Together, they’ve developed a thriving network of STEM experiences that connect school students and teachers to real-world science, technology, engineering and maths.
According to Christopher Lassig, Assistant Director-General of the Department of Education, their recognition is well deserved.
“Your success in receiving a Peter Doherty Award is a reflection of your efforts and commitment to STEM education. STEM is a priority for the department, and your contribution acts as a catalyst to inspire Queensland students in STEM,” Christopher said.
Turning Curiosity into Career Paths
Every year, thousands of students from across the state visit UQ or engage with EAIT workshops in their own schools. These programs offer something different from a regular science class. They’re hands-on, designed with real researchers, and directly tied to the kind of problems engineers, designers and computer scientists solve in the real world.
In 2024 alone, more than 8,710 students from 84 schools took part in UQ’s STEM outreach programs, which is more than double the participation of the previous year. That growth reflects not just increasing interest in STEM, but also the reputation of these workshops as exciting, relevant and eye-opening experiences. One offering is the Nanomedicine Workshop, created by Associate Professor Joy Wolfram, a biomedical engineer whose research focuses on using nanoparticles to treat disease. In this workshop, students don’t just hear about science - they get to experience it. They explore how nanomedicine works, experiment with virtual reality simulations, and learn how engineering can be used to solve medical challenges.
“Visiting real engineering labs and talking to researchers was incredible.,” said one Year 10 student. “I didn’t realise how many career options existed in engineering.”
This kind of response is exactly what the EAIT team aims for, sparking ideas and helping students imagine futures they hadn’t previously considered.
Reaching More Students, in More Places
The workshop program covers a wide range of topics, from architecture and design challenges to programming, renewable energy systems, and emergency health engineering scenarios. All sessions are aligned with the Australian and Queensland curricula, and many are co-developed with industry partners and UQ researchers. A big focus of the program is inclusivity. Through initiatives like the Women in Engineering Program, the Women in Computing Program, and the Regional Futures Tour, UQ is working to ensure that students from all backgrounds, and especially those in regional and remote areas, can access high-quality STEM learning experiences.
As one teacher from Roma State College put it, “The kids have been talking to me about the workshop ever since. It definitely sparked their interest,” he said. For students who want to dive deeper, there’s the 4-Day Engineering, Design and Computing School Holiday Program. It gives Year 9 and 10 students the opportunity to tackle complex problems in a university setting, surrounded by like-minded peers and supported by researchers. Many students return for further UQ experiences after attending, with some going on to pursue STEM degrees.
ambassadors in Roma.
Supporting Teachers as STEM Leaders
Teachers play a huge role in the success of UQ’s outreach, and the programs are designed to support their development too. Many of them attend the workshops alongside their students, gaining new insights into emerging STEM technologies and how they can be applied in the classroom.
UQ also offers tailored professional development opportunities for teachers, such as the Engaging Minds to Inspire Diversity in IT program, which focuses on building confidence in delivering inclusive computing and technology content. UQ’s team frequently visits schools to offer bespoke sessions as well. A recent example saw Professor Darren Martin deliver a biomaterials course at Queensland Academy of Science, Mathematics and Technology, an experience that not only enriched students but gave teachers a chance to learn directly from experts in the field.
Built to Last
What makes the EAIT outreach program truly special is its longevity and adaptability. It’s been running for more than 15 years and continues to evolve, incorporating feedback from schools, keeping pace with industry changes, and drawing on UQ’s research strengths.
There’s also a clear pipeline: students who attend a workshop might later visit for Open Day, apply for a school holiday program, or access the UQ Innovate Makerspace to bring
their own projects to life. Many eventually go on to study at UQ in engineering, computing or design, turning early interest into a lifelong journey.
What’s Next
The $5,000 Peter Doherty Award will be used to expand the reach of EAIT’s programs even further, allowing the team to develop new learning materials and strengthen connections with more schools across Queensland.
For Helen Burdon and the EAIT outreach team, the award is a moment of recognition - but it’s also a reminder of why the work matters.
“This is about more than workshops,” said Helen. “It’s about showing students what’s possible and giving them the tools and the confidence to get there.”
To learn more about EAIT award-winning STEM outreach or to get involved, visit the website.
