Unique weekly science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) challenges are now available for students learning from home as part of Griffith University‘s STEM Mania program.

STEM Mania is available to students in years 5-12 and brings learning, competition and engagement together in a digital space where students can undertake fun hands-on activities from home.

Pro Vice Chancellor (Sciences) Professor Andrew Smith said the challenges were designed to be completed with materials and resources students have at home.

PVC (Sciences) Professor Andrew Smith.

“With many school students now completing their studies from home,keeping them engaged in hands-onSTEM activities isessential,” Professor Smith said.

“STEM Mania gives school students a unique opportunity to collaborate, challenge themselves and learn about various topics within the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.”

With challenges released weekly, students can learn about a range of topics and challenge themselves in practical projects that have been developed by Griffith University STEM experts.

From planting native seeds in the backyard, to developing their own game, students earn digital badges on their profile for each challenge they complete.

“The individual projects and challenges do not have a single unique solution. Students are encouraged to be creative, think outside the box and develop their own critical thinking skills,” Professor Smith said.

Once students have finished a challenge, they can engage with other STEM Maniacs by uploading their results to the platform and casting a vote for their favourite entry each week.

With more than 1700 students already registered across Australia and worldwide, STEM Mania will not only provide hands-on experiences, but it will give school students multiple taste tests of different areas of STEM.

“By engaging in a variety of STEM activities, school students can get a better understanding of the common work undertaken by industry professionals, helping them make a more educated decision on the fields they are interested in delving into after school,” Professor Smith said.