Matthew Flinders Anglican College will host its third annual Inspiring Women in Science and Health (I-WiSH) conference for its Senior School students on Tuesday, 15 August to celebrate National Science Week.
Through the I-WiSH conference, Flinders aims to address the under-representation of young women in the sciences and demystify and reveal the future pathways on offer.
The 2023 conference is an opportunity for Flinders students to connect with world-class scientists and researchers in a mentoring and coaching scenario.
The conference brings together 48 girls in Year 10 at Flinders (change agents), 24 girls in Years 11 and 12 at Flinders (hosts & mentors), 8 leading women researchers (coaches) and 8 women doctoral students.
Flinders students will have the opportunity to learn about real-world research projects and to be mentored in how to devise and pitch a science-based initiative to a panel of judges.
The Flinders I-WiSH is led by Dr Louise McCuaig and Secondary Science Teacher and Project Leader, Mrs Emmie Cossell.
Last year’s I-WiSH event was a resounding success, with Flinders’ Year 10 student Heather Brown giving I-WiSH 2022 a glowing review.
“It was so amazing!” Heather said. “I highly recommend it for younger girls as well. I went in with an open mind and I heard so many amazing things. It makes me very excited to explore science.”
Returning to feature on the guest speaking panel again this year is dietitian and doctoral student Naomi Fitzpatrick, an Old Flinderian (Class of 2013).
Naomi said of last year’s I-WiSH conference, “It was refreshing and wonderful to be surrounded by such unfiltered excitement, passion and creativity about science. It brings passion back into my work as well.”
