Students serve sweet STEM ideas

BALLARAT Tech School and Mars Wrigley have been working together to empower secondary students to consider a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Year 9 and 10 students from six local high schools took part in a two-day industry innovation workshop led by professionals from the confectioner’s Ballarat factory.

Participants were able to connect with industry mentors, gain hands-on laboratory experience, and learn design and communication skills, all while tasked with coming up with their own unique chocolate bar, prototyping it, and developing a marketing strategy.

Members of the Poptcha group developed a matcha and popcorn-flavoured chocolate bar said they enjoyed connecting with new people and sharing ideas.

They’re all interested in pursuing a career in STEM following the workshop.

“We’re all different ages and from different schools; Phoenix, Grammar, Ballarat High and Mount Clear, so it was really great to work with people you’ve never met before to create something so cool,” said participant Lizzy.

Manufacturing team manager at Mars Wrigley, Ali Aamir, said the students were encouraged to think “out of the box.”

“It’s not just about making an impact on the consumer and customer, and bringing profitability, but something that’s sustainable, long-lasting, and has an impact on the wider community,” he said.

“We shared with them how we source some ingredients from some of the less-privileged countries, and how we are making a difference in those peoples’ lives.

“Any profits are invested into those communities outside, and inside, Australia.

“It’s a very exciting and rewarding profession to come into. You could be an engineer, designer, salesperson… There’s so much to it.”

Ballarat Tech School associate director Damon Minotti said having an experienced industry partner in the classroom makes the learning much more real and engaging for students.

“We saw lots of great innovation and unique ways of marketing the products,” he said.

“If there are other industries out there interested in tapping into the next generation of employees in this way, they’re welcome to contact us.”