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STEM Profile: Sarah Chapman

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Sarah Chapman

STEM Engagement and Partnership Specialist
Sarah Chapman is the Founder of STEM Changemakers, a program empowering underrepresented regional Australian girls in STEM. With over 20 years’ experience as a secondary science educator, she also founded the Townsville STEM Hub, engaging 15,000+ people. She is Co-Chair of Women in STEMM.
City/town: Townsville
State: QLD
STEMM sectors: Data/AI, Education, Engineering, Environment, Research, Science, Technology, Wider STEMM / Other
Open to being contacted about the following volunteer roles: Mentoring others, Speaking at professional events/panels
Guiding principle: “There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” - Amanda Gorman
Areas of expertise: Engagement, Partnerships, Regional Engagement of Girls into STEM, Advocacy

Q&A

Who is a woman in a STEMM field that you admire, or who has influenced your work?

Madhu, co-chair of Women in STEMM Australia. An excellent operator, inspirational STEM expert and wonderful human. She has influenced me to grow as a Co-Chair.

What’s a problem in your field that keeps you up at night, and why does it matter to you personally?

Connecting regional, rural and remote girls to STEM opportunities.

When have you taken a risk in your career, and what did you learn from it (regardless of the outcome)?

I took three years off from my work as a science educator, to try and make an impact for regional girls in STEM. I learnt it takes a lot of resilience and backing yourself EVERY day. Having good people around you to remind you when it gets tough is an essential part!

If you could collaborate with anyone (past or present, in or outside STEMM), who would it be and what would you want to explore together?

Sir David Attenborough! He is SUPER inspirational!

What change, big or small, would you most like to see in the culture of STEMM fields over the next decade?

Regional girls going from the least likely to choose a STEM path, to leaders in STEM!