Symposium encourages young people to influence the future

Published Monday, 29 June, 2015 at 02:14 PM

Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Science and Innovation
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Radical robots, aerial drones and human settlement on Mars will be food for thought at a youth symposium in Brisbane today and tomorrow (29 and 30 June 2015).

Science and Innovation Minister Leeanne Enoch welcomed students, teachers and an international field of expert speakers and panellists to the inaugural Pivotal Youth Symposium at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

“Encouraging more young people to be scientists, IT experts and engineers is important, not just for Queensland, but for Australia and the world,” Ms Enoch said.

“It’s said that up to 40 per cent of jobs that exist today may not exist in 10 to 15 years due to digital disruption.

“In contrast, 75 per cent of the fastest growing occupations in our state require students to have capabilities in the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) areas.

“Our prosperity as a state and nation will depend on how well we embrace and lead digital innovation and encourage our young people to pursue a STEM career pathway from an early age.”

The youth symposium has been organised by the Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, in collaboration with Digital Careers (NICTA), Regional Development Australia – Brisbane, Australia Post, CSIRO and Destination Spatial.

The youth symposium is being held in conjunction with the Pivotal International Executive Summit organised by the Spatial Industries Business Association (SIBA).

Keynote speakers at the executive summit, including representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), will share their knowledge and insights with students and teachers attending the youth symposium.

Spatial information technology has wide application across a range of fields, including crisis management, climate change, defence, mapping, sustainability and community activism.

Australia’s spatial industries are worth about $18 billion to the national economy, with great potential to share in an emerging $3 trillion global spatial industries market.

“Queensland has been the source of a number of geospatial innovations in recent years,” Ms Enoch said.

“Brisbane, in particular, has established an international reputation for excellence in the development of cutting edge spatial technology ranging from hand held laser mapping tools to 3D visualisation technology to help with urban design.

“This emerging spatial industries sector will be a major driver of jobs in the future.

“As a government, a challenge for us will be to put in place the guiding markers that will help encourage our young people towards a STEM career pathway.”

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Media contact: Tim Shipstone – 3719 7281; 0419 246 157