Education

A teacher from Seaholme Primary School in Melbourne's western suburbs, attended the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy in the United States

Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy

Four Australian teachers have been the first international participants at an advanced training program in the United States of America that helps teachers ignite a love of maths and science in their students.

The teachers from Melbourne’s west and Gippsland attended the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy in Houston, Texas. 

The Academy, which provides an intensive week–long training program, was established by ExxonMobil with professional golfer Phil Mickelson and his wife Amy, to advance maths and science education.  The Academy classes are run by two of America’s leading teacher training organisations, the National Teachers Association and Math Solutions.

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National Youth Science Forum

ExxonMobil is a major sponsor of the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) which is a not-for-profit organisation based at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra. The NYSF has been operating for 26 years in partnership with Rotary International which manages the student application selection process.

The aim of the Forum, which is live-in at ANU for twelve days, is to provide 300 top year 12 science students from around Australia with an overview of university and career opportunities. The program is designed to assist final year secondary school students to decide on a career in science or engineering and the appropriate university study options. The program covers an industry information day, laboratory visits, guest speakers, university presentations, training in communication and negotiation, mock interviews for university/job interviews, scientific debate and scientific ethics.

There were two Forum sessions in Canberra in early 2009, and NYSF also intends introducing one session in Perth in 2010.  

NYSF also provides its students with ongoing activities throughout the year including industry seminars, field trips and university forums, together with an international exchange program.

NYSF was previously known as the National Science Summer School up until 1996.

Women in Engineering

Engineering in Australia has traditionally attracted few women:

• Only six per cent of currently practicing professional engineers are women.
• Women represent only 15 per cent of enrolments in engineering degree courses nationally.
• There is a growing engineer shortage in Australia.

ExxonMobil has partnered with Melbourne School of Engineering to promote a new website dedicated to engineering careers and study opportunities for women.

The Women in Engineering website covers the following topics:

• Information about engineering careers and study options.
• Website links (greatest engineering achievements, famous engineers and Australia’s 25 most influential women engineers).
• Professional profiles (including profiles from women engineers in ExxonMobil's Australian operations)
• Grants and scholarships.

WA Science School of the Year awards

ExxonMobil is the major sponsor of the WA Science School of the Year awards. ExxonMobil's sponsorship recognises excellence in science education strategy, sustained student improvement, community involvement and innovative approaches in government schools and TAFEWA colleges across Western Australia.

University awards

ExxonMobil supports a range of student engineering excellence awards and projects at many Australian universities including Monash, Melbourne, RMIT, New South Wales, Sydney, Queensland and Adelaide.