From Kindergarten to University – See the STEM Journey at #SalesforceTour Sydney

By: Davinder Mann, APAC Director, Programs, Salesforce.org 

The countdown to Salesforce World Tour Sydney is on and we are SO excited to see all the innovation, customer success and experience the energy, vibe and magic from the Salesforce community on March 21st. This year is going to be epic and we hope you’ll be there to share it with us!

Another thing we’re especially excited about is our STEM and Education showcase which you can see and experience in the STEM Education Zone. Salesforce.org supports and promotes innovative, scalable solutions in education and STEM with a focus on computer science and increasing exposure of underrepresented groups and girls.

Our focus on equality in all its forms can be seen in the programs we are running with the schools in our Circle the Schools initiative. Partnering with Australian Schools Plus, FIRST and two of our adopted schools we are delighted to bring the following activities to Salesforce World Tour Sydney.

Attending the event? Make sure to check out these programs, be inspired by these young innovators and maybe pick up some new STEM skills too!

FIRST Robotics Competition

The FIRST Robotics Competition area will be fun, exhilarating and pretty darn impressive to visit! Hold onto your seats as you witness 4 teams of students from grades 7-12 battle it out during the showcase at the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). Teams will be challenged to design, build, program, and operate robots to compete in a head-to-head challenge. We can’t wait to see what they come up with!

“FIRST is life-changing.”

“On the surface, FIRST is a series of robotics programs,” says Andrew Clark, lead mentor of FLL and FRC Team Project Bucephalus. “However, when you look at the students involved, you realise just how much MORE it actually is. FIRST is life-changing. Students of all ages can take part in an exciting event where STEM skills are relevant and valuable. Competition is fierce, but the opponents are gracious. Life-long friendships are formed, and your “opponents” can be the ones cheering you on the loudest. Students enter FIRST and emerge with a clear direction for the future, and life skills to help them in any situation.”

School Robotics Workshops

The fun doesn’t stop there. We’ll also be welcome 40 students from Casula High School and Hoxton Park High School who will be participating in a workshop where they’ll learn how to build FTC robots, just like the ones from the FIRST Tech Challenge. Later in the day, these students, a number of whom are from the AIME program will take on the FIRST Robotics teams in the challenge area and put their new skills and robots to the test! Who will reign supreme? You need to be there to find out!

The workshops will be run by AIME Mentors and participants from our recent Workforce Development program with Women in Engineering and IT (WIEIT) program at UTS and our as always awesome Salesforce volunteers.

“No matter their background, our students will need the skills they learn in STEM, like critical thinking and creativity, to succeed.” – Casula High School

FIRST Lego League Junior

But STEM doesn’t just start at high school, which is why we’re bringing 10 incredible kindergarten kids on-site to showcase their Lego League Junior projects. No doubt you’ll be in awe, we know we were!

“We work with lots of schools in disadvantaged areas, and they often don’t have the same access to technology or other resources as more advantaged schools. But their students are just as capable and keen. It’s so important they get the opportunities they need to thrive in the jobs of the future.” – Rosemary Conn, CEO Schools Plus

If you’re attending Salesforce World Tour Sydney, please come and check out these inspiring kids and the amazing organizations that make these programs a reality. It’s our job to help make sure that every child has equal access to learn STEM. Supporting these causes by just showing up, is a great first step!

Australian Schools Plus and FIRST Robotics will also be onsite to discuss how you can get involved by sponsoring schools and STEM projects.

Register now for Salesforce World Tour Sydney and download your tailored World Tour Trailmap.