Future-shaping milestone as STEM Central surges ahead
Science enthusiasts and educators from across Gladstone celebrated STEM Central with a milestone event mapping the collaborative future for the innovative community education centre.
A high-tech drawcard at CQUniversity Gladstone since 2018, the community was invited to explore the futuristic facility and hear future-proofing plans for the popular destination.
The event, titled Stability, Strategy & STEM Innovation: 2026 and Beyond, celebrated seven years of achievements and launched the new STEM Central Collaborative initiative to ensure stability and long-term impact through innovative science, technology, engineering, maths (STEM) education.
Connecting with science
The event also showcased new opportunities for community members to support its initiatives, by volunteering to support engaging, hands-on STEM experiences for school groups, senior learners and the wider community. Become a STEM Central volunteer here.
CQU researchers also outlined a new Air Quality initiative, driving local liveability through innovation. The re-launched program aimed to recruit citizen scientists from the local community to be involved.
STEM Central operates as a partnership between Australia Pacific LNG, operated downstream by ConocoPhillips, and CQUniversity, to address the skills shortage crisis in the STEM workforce.
Deputy Dean Research for CQU’s School of Education and the Arts Associate Professor Linda Pfeiffer leads STEM Central and said the event marked important milestones as the facility continued to grow.
"STEM Central has brought science to life for tens of thousands of participants, not just on campus in Gladstone, but through greater outreach through regional Queensland, and into primary schools across our region,” Assoc Prof Pfeiffer said.
Indigenous-connected impact
STEM Central partnerships have also supported the award-winning Buraligim Weiber (Place of Learning) initiative.
An innovative and immersive project with Gladstone primary schools, the CQU outreach has connected more than 600 students with STEM-focused Indigenous-connected education since 2022.
The project works with CQU’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre (CMERC), Quoin Island Turtle Rehabilitation Centre, Queensland Museum and many others create hands-on, First Nations-informed STEM opportunities.
Assoc Prof Pfeiffer was also recently featured in Higher Education Digest for inspiring the next generation of STEM leaders.
Stability, Strategy & STEM Innovation: 2026 and Beyond was held at CQUniversity Gladstone Marina campus, Bryan Jordan Drive on Wednesday 18 March.
