Queensland Academies Creative Industries Campus (QACI) is proud to congratulate Year 10 student Lexie on her selection for the 2026 STEM Girl Power Camp.
The STEM Girl Power Camp is a prestigious Queensland initiative that brings together up to 60 high school students from across the state who demonstrate a strong interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). During the five-day program, participants travel to Brisbane to engage in hands-on workshops, university experiences, research activities and leadership development opportunities.
The camp aims to inspire the next generation of women in STEM by connecting students with leading researchers, industry professionals and role models while developing their skills as STEM ambassadors within their school communities.
Throughout the program, Lexie joined 59 other students from across Queensland in exploring a range of STEM pathways and real-world applications of scientific research. Participants visited universities and research facilities, undertook practical activities and learned about emerging challenges and innovations across a variety of STEM fields.
Following the camp, students return to their schools as STEM Ambassadors, promoting STEM initiatives within their communities and participating in National Science Week activities. Later in the year, they will reunite at the STEM Girl Power Summit, where they will showcase their achievements and officially join the STEM Girl Power Alumni network.
Reflecting on her experience, Lexie shared:
"Just after discovering I had been accepted to QACI, the community sent out an email detailing an exciting opportunity to become a STEM ambassador and go on a one-week science intensive camp. So, I anxiously went up to my then-maths teacher and asked her if she could write me a letter-of-recommendation to help me apply. Now, I’m here one year later having experienced an unforgettable plethora of workshops, experiments, lectures and karaoke-accompanied bus rides. I was beyond proud to spend five days with 59 other girls from all parts of Queensland, representing our schools and the next generation of female scientists.
Some key highlights for me include a practical we completed at the Translational Research Institute, where we applied the theory of osmosis to live cancer cells and discussed possible methods to find cures. We also toured Queensland’s Eco-Sciences Precinct, where hundreds of scientists work to make our way of living more sustainable. We specifically focused on the agricultural sector, which involved preventing crops from falling to diseases and learning about the importance of fruit flies! We also got to visit the Planetarium (even though it was late and some of us might have dozed off from the lightshow…) and observe around 10 million stars at once using the Seestar telescope! It reaffirmed that there is so much out there, but we still need to take care of what we have on Earth as well.
Overall, being given this opportunity is something I’ll be eternally grateful for. Meeting so many girls my age who share a love for all things STEM gave me hope and excitement for the future and the boundless opportunities humanity has yet to explore. Thank you to everyone at QACI who made this possible!"
QACI congratulates Lexie on this outstanding achievement and thanks her for representing the school with such enthusiasm, curiosity and passion for STEM. We look forward to seeing the impact she will continue to make as a STEM Ambassador throughout the year.