15 October 2018 

170 secondary school students presented their results from the NXplorers program at a special event on Thursday 11 October at Scitech’s W.A. Science Zone.

Students from years 8 – 10 from South Coast Baptist College, Cecil Andrews College, Lakeland Senior High School and Warwick Senior High School displayed projects that answered the main focus question of “How can we be more sustainable with our food and energy at our school?”

Projects include advertising campaigns for reducing straws, increasing the use of solar panels, creating basketball-inspired backboards for bins to encourage throwing rubbish in the bin, and using recycled materials for school gardens to grow food. How can we be more sustainable with our food and energy at our school?

The NXplorers program is an international science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education program, launched by Shell and Scitech in March 2018. It aims to drive interest and capability in STEM subjects and careers in current high school students as they develop their skills in preparation for the future work force.

Ms Deb Hancock, Chief Executive Officer, Scitech said “The NXplorers program is a remarkable opportunity for secondary school students to understand how STEM thinking can practically relate to their world to create relevant, realistic and positive solutions to issues facing their community. This agent of change mentality is immensely empowering, and demonstrates how and why STEM skills can shape future career opportunities as well as their day to day lives.”

“Over 75% of future jobs have been identified as needing STEM skills and knowledge, and the NXplorers program is a practical step towards empowering current generations for future success”

Zoe Yujnovich, Country Chair Shell Australia said “We are excited to be partnering with Scitech to implement Shell’s NXplorers program in Perth. The world needs more STEM thinkers to help solve tomorrow’s energy challenges, including the demand for more and cleaner energy. Shell’s NXplorers program helps equip students with skills required for the jobs of the future.”

The Program involved introductory hands-on sessions followed by several weeks of project work, supported by teachers, Scitech staff and Shell volunteers. Perth students were also able to work with NXplorers students in Brazil, Nigeria, India, Kazakhstan, Oman and Egypt via an online NXplorers portal, encouraging global thinking and collaboration.

The NXplorers program was also rolled out in in Broome this year. Year 8 and 9 students from St Mary’s College completed a range of sustainability projects including model aquaponics systems, recycling programs, mobile and permanent school gardens and planting of native trees.

About NXplorers

Shell’s investment in sciences is aimed at developing smart thinkers to solve tomorrow’s global challenges, including the demand for more and cleaner energy. The NXplorers programs equips future generations with the skills they will need to access the jobs of the future.

Using key tools of ‘explore’, ‘create’ and ‘change’, the NXplorers methodology cultivates the main components of STEM thinking - critical thinking, problem-solving skills, creativity, communication and collaboration.

Students develop sustainability ideas, models and research projects to describe how they believe they can create positive change in their community. Western Australian students have joined the NXplorers community of positive change already experienced in the Netherlands, Nigeria, Ghana, Brazil, India, Qatar, Russia, Singapore, Indonesia and Oman.

Previous programs have tackled food security in Qatar, salmon fishing sustainability in Russia and irrigation issues in India. By presenting STEM concepts in interesting and relevant scenarios, NXplorers aspires to develop an ‘agent of change’ mentality in the key generation transitioning into the world’s future workforce.

See the NXplorers website to read more about this program.