Charles Sturt University and Central Queensland University paid a special visit to the city for four days of workshops, teaching the students about cyber security, testing fruit sugars with an understanding of agricultural variables, as well as 'fit bits' for cattle.

Year 9 and 10 students attended the cyber security sessions at The Exies, with some like Felicity Cordova and Palakha Bhargo finding, perhaps, a future calling.

"I would really like to learn more, broaden my knowledge about cyber security, perhaps follow it as a future career," Felicity said.

"I'd like to show the world we can do it too if we are genuinely interested in it," Palakha added.

Tanveer Zia, associate professor in computing and specialist in computer and communication security at Charles Sturt University (CSU) said it was incredibly rewarding and important to pass on this information to young women, opening up potential career trajectories they may not have considered before.

"There is only 11 per cent of women in the cyber security field," Mr Zia said.

"The girls here in Griffith have shown so much curiosity and engagement with the content, it has really been amazing."

His Girls in Cyber Security Advancing program (GiCSA) recently won the '2019 Women in Security Award' in the category of 'Best Higher Education Program for Young Ladies'.

More public schools gathered at the Wade High site to learn about fruit sugar and GPS tracking cows with 'fit bits'.

Year 6 students Beelbangera Public School's Jacinta Billing and Griffith East Public School's Jesse Ryan said they learned about the different agricultural conditions that impact fruit's sugar levels.

"I was surprised that the grape had the highest amount of sugar," Jacinta exclaimed.

"It was very interesting getting to use the refractometre to measure it all, and how it is helping growers now," Jesse said.

Jaime Manning, lecturer in Agriculture within the School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences at CQUniversity Australia, was impressed at how engaged the students were.

"They asked so many great questions and kept following through with really engaging conversations," she said.

Her experience in livestock tracking has been used to help co-develop courses and lessons for "GPS cows", and is excited to be able to share the information with Griffith's students.

The four days were organised through the Grow Our Own initiative, aiming at retaining local talent by showcasing businesses within the region, alongside the SISP program encompasses STEM subjects Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with Industry School Partnerships.

RELATED

Murrumbidgee High STEM teacher Ian Preston said the days aligns with the key goal of providing our regional students with opportunities to learn about different opportunities.

Regional Development Australia, Riverina industry liasion officer Cassandra Cadorin said the 'inspiration days' were a way to educating students about STEM Careers available in Griffith that align with the curriculum.

***

WANT THE GRIFFITH HEADLINES DELIVERED?

Get the headlines in our free newsletter delivered every Monday at 6am, sign up here.