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Women, non-binary and gender diverse high school students from years 10 to 12 came together for Big Day Out on Tuesday 14 July, exploring computer science and engineering through hands-on activities, industry experiences and networking.

Hosted by 91ɫ��Ƭ Young Women in Engineering and designed in collaboration with the 91ɫ��Ƭ School of Computer Science and Engineering, the day gave students opportunities to explore where a career in engineering could take them while connecting with the people already shaping the field.

Following an icebreaker, the students visited Canva –a successful global graphic design software company founded by Australians. There, the students heard from engineers about their work and saw  it in action. They then put their own skills to the test in a prompt engineering workshop, led by Dr Aditya Joshi, that explored generative AI, problem-solving and the ethical use of AI. The hands-on workshop opened students’ eyes to emerging areas of engineering, with one participant sharing that the workshop was “particularly helpful” in learning about the ethical uses of AI.

The day concluded with a networking event where students connected with industry representatives and 91ɫ��Ƭ academics, gaining first-hand insights into the world of computer science engineering.

Students valued the opportunity to discover new pathways and hear directly from people working in the field. One described the day as a “super immersive and great experience” that helped them to understand how computer science engineering can support real-world software problems. Another student said that the experience gave them “confidence in engineering as a future pathway”.

Run twice a year, Big Day Out gives students a welcoming space to explore their interests, build connections and see the breadth of opportunities available to them. It is helping the 91ɫ��Ƭ Faculty of Engineering to remove barriers and empower students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue higher education opportunities in engineering.