ESG Alignment
Students explored how infrastructure can be planned with minimal impact on waterways, vegetation, and existing assets, instilling early awareness of sustainable design.
The initiative fostered local engagement, critical thinking, and inclusion by encouraging students to consider careers in STEM and infrastructure.
SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
The McConnell Dowell Diona (now SRG Utilities) Joint Venture (MDJV) teamed up with SA Water to deliver a hands-on session with Year 8 geography students at Trinity College South Australia, linking directly to learning outcomes on urban planning, infrastructure and population growth.
Using Google Earth and tools developed by MDJV, students worked in groups to design a pipeline route based on real-world constraints spanning Enviromental, Social and Design. Some considerations were driveway access, noise close to residents, waterways, native vegetation and other services. Students had to balance all these considerations and choose the route most suited and justify their pathway using mitigation examples.
Ross Riach, Leader of STEM and Innovation at Trinity, said it was “one of the best STEM projects I have seen in my career as a STEM specialist, as it not only ticked all the boxes, including real-world relevance, collaboration, critical thinking and authentic tech, but also promoted the role of women in STEM roles and has the potential to grow into a multi-school competition.”
We are so proud to be part of this powerful example of how industry and education can work together to inspire the next generation.
Thanks to Trinity College, SA Water and the MDJV team for creating such an engaging and meaningful learning experience.