Leanne Caira | Project Lead
Knox Innovation Opportunity and Sustainability Centre

Leanne is the Project Lead at Knox Innovation Opportunity and Sustainability Centre (KIOSC). She leads a team of educators to develop and deliver high quality innovative STEM programs to secondary school students, delivered in the Knox area as well as across the state. With over 20 years of teaching experience and an in-depth understanding of program design and delivery, her contribution to developing highly engaging programs embedding emerging technology has made KIOSC programs valued by teachers and students.

Appearances:

Day 2 @ 11:00

Smart waste management with technology

Dr Kulari and Leanne will present an overview of KIOSC’s TrashBot program, highlighting the importance of inspiring, empowering and equipping students with skills to become future Change Makers with the capability to contribute to future solutions for Global Sustainability.

The opportunity to design and create an innovative, automated, sustainable waste management solution provided students with access to technology and skill development that they would not have ordinarily had as part of their regular curriculum.

The design process enabled students to develop technical skills required in emerging employment markets in STEM, such as 3D printing, programming, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. They also learnt about potential opportunities and tertiary studies that they may aspire to in the future.

Throughout the program, KIOSC staff guided and supported local and regional schools to implement the TrashBot program, using blended, collaborative and personalised learning pedagogies in synchronous sessions, and provided schools with resources via Canvas.

This initiative aligns closely with Swinburne’s Horizon 2025 Strategic Plan by addressing the institutional goal of becoming a leader in blended learning and the vision to bring people and technology together to build a better world.

Lokuge Dona Kulari, Director, Knox Innovation Opportunity and Sustainability Centre