Women pursuing studies in aerospace engineering and cyber security are among the first 50 scholarship recipients of the Elevate: Boosting Women in STEM program.
The Elevate program partners with industry to grow the pool of future women STEM leaders through university scholarships and wrap-around support.
The scholarships help women to access STEM study, careers and leadership opportunities. They will develop a diverse, inclusive, collaborative and industry-minded group of scholars.
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) announced the first cohort of scholars who will commence their studies in 2023. The scholars include:
- 30 women pursuing postgraduate studies in applied STEM research
- 5 mid-career women in STEM who will undertake career-boosting leadership qualification
- 15 women who will commence STEM undergraduate degrees, setting them on paths to rewarding careers.
The 2023 scholar cohort represents the diversity seen across women in Australia. The cohort includes scholars from:
- the LGBTQIA+ community
- First Nations backgrounds
- regional, rural or remote areas
- a range of socio-economic backgrounds.
The cohort also includes those that identify as culturally and linguistically diverse or as persons of colour.
The scholars come from different states and plan to study at 19 different universities (including those located in regional areas). Nearly half of the cohort are the first in their family to attend university.
The Australian Government awarded $41.2 million in administered funding to ATSE to deliver 500 scholarships from 2021–22 to 2027–28 as part of this program.
A review of existing government programs and investments is currently underway to boost greater diversity in STEM fields.