The team of eight girls topped the country in the recent Australian STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) competition where they were crowned champions in the Year 9/10 Division.

The team of Ranuli Dissanayake, Radhika Singh, Lilian Collins, Megan Walton, Prue Burge, Willow Rich, Abagail Searle and Graison Barratt say they are overjoyed at their success.

“Stereotypically they’re boys’ subjects, but we’ve shown that girls can do better,” a very happy Radhika said.

The topic of the competition was ‘engineering and the environment’ where students explored and learnt about biometics, engineering closed ecosystems, geothermal heat pumps, global climate change, home efficiency, modifying metro areas, smart car technology and water treatment.

“In each of the sections of the competition, students were required to use critical job readiness skills such as collaboration, analytical thinking and multi-dimensional problem solving,” team leader Megan said.

Thanks to their results, the team was ranked second in the international component of the competition.

MacKillop teacher Ann Walton said this was the first time the college has entered a team, and these girls have set the bar very high.

During the competition, a Charles Sturt University (CSU) engineering representative helped guide the team.

CSU director of engineering Professor Euan Lindsay is it was vital to get young people interested in engineering.

“We went there as part of our outreach program to work with young people and show them that studying engineering in the region is possible,” he said.

Prof Lindsay said engineering is often considered a male dominated field, but it was important women were welcomed and encouraged to get involved.

“We’re so happy to see young women go so well at an international level,” he said.