STEM day ignites passion for innovation and engineering across Hunter region
From designing bridges to building bee boxes for the project, local students received a taste of the fascinating world of STEM as part of the M1 extension to Raymond Terrace project’s most recent open day.
This year’s event built on the success of the 2024 flagship taster, expanding its scope and impact to provide students with a deeper, hands-on experience of STEM in action.
The open day was part of the project’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education program.
On Wednesday, more than 50 local students joined educators and industry professionals to celebrate the role of STEM in shaping infrastructure and community outcomes.
Transport for NSW’s Infrastructure, Projects & Engineering Regional Hub Executive Director Belinda Ritchie said the M1 extension’s STEM taster event aimed to inspire local students by giving them a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how major infrastructure is built.
“The STEM Day reflects the project’s commitment to leaving a legacy that goes beyond physical infrastructure,” Ms Ritchie said.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for local students to have a hands-on experience learning about all the intricacies of building legacy infrastructure, right in their backyards.
“By engaging young people in meaningful, career-focused experiences, the program aims to spark curiosity, build confidence and inspire future pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
Students from Maitland Grossmann and Hunter River high schools and Catherine McAuley Catholic College participated in a full-day program designed to showcase real-world applications of STEM.
Activities included surveying, materials testing, road design, bridge building, environmental assessments and safety challenges—each aligned with current infrastructure practices and delivered by industry experts.
The event was developed in collaboration with the Department of Education, with students selected through an expression of interest process targeting Year 11 and 12 students studying STEM subjects.
“Days such as this give students the opportunity to explore various careers in civil construction, interact with industry professionals, and witness firsthand how STEM principles are applied in real-world projects,” Ms Ritchie said.
“Once completed, the M1 extension to Raymond Terrace – along with the Hexham Straight Widening project – will transform the way road users travel to, from and around the Hunter.”
The M1 Pacific Motorway extension and Hexham Straight widening projects are being funded jointly with a total investment of $2.24 billion - $1.792 billion provided by the Australian Government and $448 million from the NSW Government.
More information about the M1 extension project is available at https://caportal.com.au/tfnsw/m1rt
The Hexham Straight Widening project’s website also has more information at https://caportal.com.au/tfnsw/hexham-straight