I love selfies I could look at selfies all day and in fact that’s kind of what
all day and in fact that’s kind of what
all day and in fact that’s kind of what I’ve been doing for the past 20 years
I’ve been doing for the past 20 years
I’ve been doing for the past 20 years and no I’m not interested in renewing my
and no I’m not interested in renewing my
and no I’m not interested in renewing my youth via snapchat but I would like to
youth via snapchat but I would like to
youth via snapchat but I would like to introduce you to the grandmother of all
introduce you to the grandmother of all
introduce you to the grandmother of all selfies so over half a decade ago we
selfies so over half a decade ago we
selfies so over half a decade ago we thought that it was about time that
thought that it was about time that
thought that it was about time that earth posed in all her Wonder and glory
earth posed in all her Wonder and glory
earth posed in all her Wonder and glory for us to see and so in 1964 far cooler
for us to see and so in 1964 far cooler
for us to see and so in 1964 far cooler than a selfie stick we launched Nimbus
than a selfie stick we launched Nimbus
than a selfie stick we launched Nimbus tasked to create Earth’s selfie album
tasked to create Earth’s selfie album
tasked to create Earth’s selfie album and ever since we’ve been checking out
and ever since we’ve been checking out
and ever since we’ve been checking out her wonderful oceans and sea ice forests
ozone layer snow-capped mountains
ozone layer snow-capped mountains beautiful sparkling city lights
sometimes she covers her wares in clouds
sometimes she covers her wares in clouds and other times she bears all and we see
and other times she bears all and we see
and other times she bears all and we see her beauty and treasures on a not so
her beauty and treasures on a not so
her beauty and treasures on a not so good day we see her pouty anger about to
good day we see her pouty anger about to
good day we see her pouty anger about to storm with tears where she can’t quite
storm with tears where she can’t quite
storm with tears where she can’t quite reach with moisturizer and her scars
reach with moisturizer and her scars
reach with moisturizer and her scars from third-degree burns or where we’ve
from third-degree burns or where we’ve
from third-degree burns or where we’ve created incisions for various operations
created incisions for various operations
created incisions for various operations if you’ve ever spent just a moment on
if you’ve ever spent just a moment on
if you’ve ever spent just a moment on Google Earth you’ve stepped into my
Google Earth you’ve stepped into my
Google Earth you’ve stepped into my world
world
world as a remote sensing scientist I have the
as a remote sensing scientist I have the
as a remote sensing scientist I have the privilege of viewing these amazing
privilege of viewing these amazing
privilege of viewing these amazing selfies and using them to create maps of
selfies and using them to create maps of
selfies and using them to create maps of the environment helping us understand
the environment helping us understand
the environment helping us understand what’s there how it changes over time
what’s there how it changes over time
what’s there how it changes over time and ultimately how we can manage our
and ultimately how we can manage our
and ultimately how we can manage our environment using this sort of
environment using this sort of
environment using this sort of technology we’re able to ask the sorts
technology we’re able to ask the sorts
technology we’re able to ask the sorts of questions like how big is the Great
of questions like how big is the Great
of questions like how big is the Great Barrier Reef well it’s about the size of
Barrier Reef well it’s about the size of
Barrier Reef well it’s about the size of Italy or half the size of Texas how many
Italy or half the size of Texas how many
Italy or half the size of Texas how many individual reefs do we have nearly three
individual reefs do we have nearly three
individual reefs do we have nearly three thousand how much live coral is out
thousand how much live coral is out
thousand how much live coral is out there well we can’t actually answer that
there well we can’t actually answer that
there well we can’t actually answer that one just yet
one just yet
one just yet one of the reasons that we can’t is
one of the reasons that we can’t is
one of the reasons that we can’t is because these satellites are several
because these satellites are several
because these satellites are several hundred kilometres away and so what we
hundred kilometres away and so what we
hundred kilometres away and so what we actually see when we zoom all the way in
its pixels now I spent some time as an
its pixels now I spent some time as an engineer in the Australian Army where I
engineer in the Australian Army where I
engineer in the Australian Army where I was introduced to drones and I thought
was introduced to drones and I thought
was introduced to drones and I thought hey what if I could get one of these for
hey what if I could get one of these for
hey what if I could get one of these for myself and I can put a camera on a drone
myself and I can put a camera on a drone
myself and I can put a camera on a drone and I could see if I could find the live
and I could see if I could find the live
and I could see if I could find the live coral so this is one of my first drones
coral so this is one of my first drones
coral so this is one of my first drones with a camera strapped to it with none
with a camera strapped to it with none
with a camera strapped to it with none other than a brass strap I have some
other than a brass strap I have some
other than a brass strap I have some more sophisticated setups now so what
more sophisticated setups now so what
more sophisticated setups now so what you just to imagine that these are your
you just to imagine that these are your
you just to imagine that these are your cameras this is a couple of hundred
cameras this is a couple of hundred
cameras this is a couple of hundred thousand dollars worth of camera
thousand dollars worth of camera
thousand dollars worth of camera attached to a drone and so you’re
attached to a drone and so you’re
attached to a drone and so you’re getting ready for takeoff the motors
getting ready for takeoff the motors
getting ready for takeoff the motors start up and it sounds like a scourge of
start up and it sounds like a scourge of
start up and it sounds like a scourge of mosquitoes so you’re kind of nervous
mosquitoes so you’re kind of nervous
mosquitoes so you’re kind of nervous you’ve got all this money getting ready
you’ve got all this money getting ready
you’ve got all this money getting ready to fly but then all of a sudden you see
to fly but then all of a sudden you see
to fly but then all of a sudden you see what an eye on the ground cannot
I marvel that through science and
I marvel that through science and technology I’m able to now see even in a
technology I’m able to now see even in a
technology I’m able to now see even in a single shot sharks turtles raise even
single shot sharks turtles raise even
single shot sharks turtles raise even individual sea cucumbers I can count
individual sea cucumbers I can count
individual sea cucumbers I can count them and I know that there’s thousands
them and I know that there’s thousands
them and I know that there’s thousands out there turning over the sediment on
out there turning over the sediment on
out there turning over the sediment on the reef on a daily basis and finally I
the reef on a daily basis and finally I
the reef on a daily basis and finally I can see my life coral and we can
can see my life coral and we can
can see my life coral and we can actually start to map how much live
actually start to map how much live
actually start to map how much live coral we have on the Great Barrier Reef
coral we have on the Great Barrier Reef
coral we have on the Great Barrier Reef through this technology so if I take a
through this technology so if I take a
through this technology so if I take a step back from the sort of work with the
step back from the sort of work with the
step back from the sort of work with the I do with drones
I do with drones
I do with drones I love mapping there’s so many different
I love mapping there’s so many different
I love mapping there’s so many different applications for drones out there and
applications for drones out there and
applications for drones out there and when I asked a number of my friends and
when I asked a number of my friends and
when I asked a number of my friends and colleagues why they fly drones they tell
colleagues why they fly drones they tell
colleagues why they fly drones they tell me a bunch of different reasons so I
me a bunch of different reasons so I
me a bunch of different reasons so I think this is a really cool technology
think this is a really cool technology
think this is a really cool technology but pretty much anyone can be a part of
but pretty much anyone can be a part of
but pretty much anyone can be a part of and then I want to reflect on something
and then I want to reflect on something
and then I want to reflect on something that happened to me last year so it was
that happened to me last year so it was
that happened to me last year so it was about this time last year during
about this time last year during
about this time last year during National Science Week
National Science Week
National Science Week and I was visiting a number of different
and I was visiting a number of different
and I was visiting a number of different schools sharing what I do with earth
schools sharing what I do with earth
schools sharing what I do with earth selfies and drones and when I went to
selfies and drones and when I went to
selfies and drones and when I went to the primary schools the kids were so
the primary schools the kids were so
the primary schools the kids were so excited about what I do and they just
excited about what I do and they just
excited about what I do and they just peppered me with questions for an entire
peppered me with questions for an entire
peppered me with questions for an entire session boys and girls it didn’t matter
session boys and girls it didn’t matter
session boys and girls it didn’t matter all sorts of questions yet when I went
all sorts of questions yet when I went
all sorts of questions yet when I went to the local high schools the girls
to the local high schools the girls
to the local high schools the girls didn’t show up and so I wondered why do
didn’t show up and so I wondered why do
didn’t show up and so I wondered why do our tastes change really that quickly
our tastes change really that quickly
our tastes change really that quickly that from primary school we go from
that from primary school we go from
that from primary school we go from being curious about all sorts of things
being curious about all sorts of things
being curious about all sorts of things to all of a sudden in high school girls
to all of a sudden in high school girls
to all of a sudden in high school girls are not interested in this technology or
are not interested in this technology or
are not interested in this technology or these amazing applications and I was
these amazing applications and I was
these amazing applications and I was talking about it with a good friend of
talking about it with a good friend of
talking about it with a good friend of and colleague of mine dr. Kathryn Ball
and colleague of mine dr. Kathryn Ball
and colleague of mine dr. Kathryn Ball and around about the same time she rang
and around about the same time she rang
and around about the same time she rang me up and she goes hey mate you in your
me up and she goes hey mate you in your
me up and she goes hey mate you in your office I said yeah sure she goes jump on
office I said yeah sure she goes jump on
office I said yeah sure she goes jump on your computer radio
your computer radio
your computer radio and she said I want you to Google
and she said I want you to Google
and she said I want you to Google drawings for girls and this is what we
drawings for girls and this is what we
drawings for girls and this is what we saw so unfortunately this sends the
saw so unfortunately this sends the
saw so unfortunately this sends the message that yes girls can do anything
message that yes girls can do anything
message that yes girls can do anything as long as they wear a bikini and this
as long as they wear a bikini and this
as long as they wear a bikini and this is my industry and it’s not really the
is my industry and it’s not really the
is my industry and it’s not really the message that I want to be sending to
message that I want to be sending to
message that I want to be sending to young girls that I want to encourage
young girls that I want to encourage
young girls that I want to encourage into with this wonderful science that I
into with this wonderful science that I
into with this wonderful science that I do so we dug a little bit deeper what we
do so we dug a little bit deeper what we
do so we dug a little bit deeper what we wanted to do was to replace those images
wanted to do was to replace those images
wanted to do was to replace those images that we saw on that search so we tried
that we saw on that search so we tried
that we saw on that search so we tried to amass all the women that we knew who
to amass all the women that we knew who
to amass all the women that we knew who were drone pilots and we found that in
were drone pilots and we found that in
were drone pilots and we found that in Australia we have about one percent
Australia we have about one percent
Australia we have about one percent female drone pilot and for such an
female drone pilot and for such an
female drone pilot and for such an emerging technology where are all the
emerging technology where are all the
emerging technology where are all the women we have an untapped resource here
women we have an untapped resource here
women we have an untapped resource here and we dug a little bit deeper and I
and we dug a little bit deeper and I
and we dug a little bit deeper and I found that Australia actually
found that Australia actually
found that Australia actually hemorrhages female talent from as early
hemorrhages female talent from as early
hemorrhages female talent from as early as primary school so much so that by the
as primary school so much so that by the
as primary school so much so that by the time we graduate in science technology
time we graduate in science technology
time we graduate in science technology engineering and maths only 16% of those
engineering and maths only 16% of those
engineering and maths only 16% of those graduates are women we need to be able
graduates are women we need to be able
graduates are women we need to be able to source from 100% of our talent pool
to source from 100% of our talent pool
to source from 100% of our talent pool to make sure that we can grow our
to make sure that we can grow our
to make sure that we can grow our economy now I’ve known for many years
economy now I’ve known for many years
economy now I’ve known for many years that I’m a minority and the sort of work
that I’m a minority and the sort of work
that I’m a minority and the sort of work that I do in the first technical
that I do in the first technical
that I do in the first technical conference that I went to back in 2000 I
conference that I went to back in 2000 I
conference that I went to back in 2000 I was stunned though to see that there are
was stunned though to see that there are
was stunned though to see that there are only about 15% women this is a standard
only about 15% women this is a standard
only about 15% women this is a standard conference that I attend and this one
conference that I attend and this one
conference that I attend and this one was actually taken earlier this year so
was actually taken earlier this year so
was actually taken earlier this year so the statistics haven’t really changed
the statistics haven’t really changed
the statistics haven’t really changed that much so again where are the women
and for many years I’ve I’ve known this
and for many years I’ve I’ve known this but I actually haven’t thought to do too
but I actually haven’t thought to do too
but I actually haven’t thought to do too much about it but then I heard dr. Zeus
much about it but then I heard dr. Zeus
much about it but then I heard dr. Zeus and the Lorax in my er unless someone
and the Lorax in my er unless someone
and the Lorax in my er unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot nothing
like you cares a whole awful lot nothing
like you cares a whole awful lot nothing is going to change it’s not well I do
is going to change it’s not well I do
is going to change it’s not well I do care a whole awful lot I’d like to see
care a whole awful lot I’d like to see
care a whole awful lot I’d like to see some of these statistics change and my
some of these statistics change and my
some of these statistics change and my colleague dr. Catherine ball also cares
colleague dr. Catherine ball also cares
colleague dr. Catherine ball also cares and so we started a program called she
and so we started a program called she
and so we started a program called she flies really designed to encourage more
flies really designed to encourage more
flies really designed to encourage more girls and women into science through the
girls and women into science through the
girls and women into science through the world of drones and so lucky for us the
world of drones and so lucky for us the
world of drones and so lucky for us the state government of Queensland thought
state government of Queensland thought
state government of Queensland thought this was a pretty good idea and so they
this was a pretty good idea and so they
this was a pretty good idea and so they gave us some money to go back to that
gave us some money to go back to that
gave us some money to go back to that high school where no girls showed up and
high school where no girls showed up and
high school where no girls showed up and to run a drone day and I thought jeez
to run a drone day and I thought jeez
to run a drone day and I thought jeez I’ll be lucky if I get twenty girls
I’ll be lucky if I get twenty girls
I’ll be lucky if I get twenty girls let’s see how this goes so I offered a
let’s see how this goes so I offered a
let’s see how this goes so I offered a girls only drone day I had sixty girls
girls only drone day I had sixty girls
girls only drone day I had sixty girls and a waiting list which really gave me
and a waiting list which really gave me
and a waiting list which really gave me an insight into how we need to
an insight into how we need to
an insight into how we need to communicate some of these opportunities
communicate some of these opportunities
communicate some of these opportunities if we want to encourage our young girls
if we want to encourage our young girls
if we want to encourage our young girls and women into these careers so yes I
and women into these careers so yes I
and women into these careers so yes I teach girls how to fly I teach them all
teach girls how to fly I teach them all
teach girls how to fly I teach them all the safety aspects that we need to know
the safety aspects that we need to know
the safety aspects that we need to know when working with this emerging
when working with this emerging
when working with this emerging technology but importantly I also teach
technology but importantly I also teach
technology but importantly I also teach the teachers because it’s really
the teachers because it’s really
the teachers because it’s really important to empower the teachers so
important to empower the teachers so
important to empower the teachers so that they can continue to engage with
that they can continue to engage with
that they can continue to engage with their students as well so we’re mapped
their students as well so we’re mapped
their students as well so we’re mapped to the Australian National Curriculum
to the Australian National Curriculum
to the Australian National Curriculum and they can continue working with these
and they can continue working with these
and they can continue working with these students I also work with boys I do aim
students I also work with boys I do aim
students I also work with boys I do aim for a higher proportion of girls to try
for a higher proportion of girls to try
for a higher proportion of girls to try and change those statistics so we have
and change those statistics so we have
and change those statistics so we have about 80% female participation at the
about 80% female participation at the
about 80% female participation at the moment but I’d definitely work with boys
moment but I’d definitely work with boys
moment but I’d definitely work with boys to
it’s not about the drawing it actually
it’s not about the drawing it actually has very little to do with the drone
has very little to do with the drone
has very little to do with the drone what you see here is a group of grade
what you see here is a group of grade
what you see here is a group of grade six school children learning to be
six school children learning to be
six school children learning to be geospatial scientists I want to shatter
geospatial scientists I want to shatter
geospatial scientists I want to shatter the illusion that scientists wear white
the illusion that scientists wear white
the illusion that scientists wear white lab coats I want children and adults to
lab coats I want children and adults to
lab coats I want children and adults to be working together cooperatively I want
be working together cooperatively I want
be working together cooperatively I want to encourage critical thinking creative
to encourage critical thinking creative
to encourage critical thinking creative learning problem-solving these students
learning problem-solving these students
learning problem-solving these students have been told that there was a cyclone
have been told that there was a cyclone
have been told that there was a cyclone in the map area that they’re looking at
in the map area that they’re looking at
in the map area that they’re looking at they need to use their drone to go and
they need to use their drone to go and
they need to use their drone to go and determine the impact of that cyclone
determine the impact of that cyclone
determine the impact of that cyclone exactly the same as what I would do if I
exactly the same as what I would do if I
exactly the same as what I would do if I was in the field with my drone so they
was in the field with my drone so they
was in the field with my drone so they have to come up with their own flight
have to come up with their own flight
have to come up with their own flight plans they figure out exactly how
plans they figure out exactly how
plans they figure out exactly how they’re going to do it and then they’ll
they’re going to do it and then they’ll
they’re going to do it and then they’ll undertake the mission I also believe
undertake the mission I also believe
undertake the mission I also believe that it’s really important to try and
that it’s really important to try and
that it’s really important to try and encourage creativity so in this example
encourage creativity so in this example
encourage creativity so in this example these girls have created their own piece
these girls have created their own piece
these girls have created their own piece of art and now they need to work out
of art and now they need to work out
of art and now they need to work out using trigonometry exactly how high to
using trigonometry exactly how high to
using trigonometry exactly how high to fly their drone so they’ll capture the
fly their drone so they’ll capture the
fly their drone so they’ll capture the perfect photo not too big not too small
perfect photo not too big not too small
perfect photo not too big not too small one photo they don’t need to think that
one photo they don’t need to think that
one photo they don’t need to think that they’re doing maths but we embed it
they’re doing maths but we embed it
they’re doing maths but we embed it anyway and I’m not sure if you’ve ever
anyway and I’m not sure if you’ve ever
anyway and I’m not sure if you’ve ever seen drones used for entertainment but
seen drones used for entertainment but
seen drones used for entertainment but Lady Gaga Disney Cirque de Soleil
Lady Gaga Disney Cirque de Soleil
Lady Gaga Disney Cirque de Soleil they’re all using drones for their
they’re all using drones for their
they’re all using drones for their entertainment so why not encourage
entertainment so why not encourage
entertainment so why not encourage people to start learning early how we
people to start learning early how we
people to start learning early how we can do this and these girls have coated
can do this and these girls have coated
can do this and these girls have coated their drone left on this using
their drone left on this using
their drone left on this using programming to give that display so
programming to give that display so
programming to give that display so really try to take examples that I know
really try to take examples that I know
really try to take examples that I know drones are used
drones are used
drones are used or out in the real world and just
or out in the real world and just
or out in the real world and just miniaturize them bring them down for
miniaturize them bring them down for
miniaturize them bring them down for students to work on so through some
students to work on so through some
students to work on so through some federal government funding we’ve been
federal government funding we’ve been
federal government funding we’ve been lucky to run drone camps across northern
lucky to run drone camps across northern
lucky to run drone camps across northern Australia so we’ve been here in Cairns
Australia so we’ve been here in Cairns
Australia so we’ve been here in Cairns Darwin and soon out to the Pilbara and
Darwin and soon out to the Pilbara and
Darwin and soon out to the Pilbara and we also run drone days around the
we also run drone days around the
we also run drone days around the country you can see a range of yellow
country you can see a range of yellow
country you can see a range of yellow dots there so this is these are the
dots there so this is these are the
dots there so this is these are the number of programs that we’ve run since
number of programs that we’ve run since
number of programs that we’ve run since February this year when we actually
February this year when we actually
February this year when we actually launched the program so you can see the
launched the program so you can see the
launched the program so you can see the size of the yellow dot indicates a
size of the yellow dot indicates a
size of the yellow dot indicates a number of people that we have had go
number of people that we have had go
number of people that we have had go through the program and on average we’re
through the program and on average we’re
through the program and on average we’re teaching three programs a week now
teaching three programs a week now
teaching three programs a week now around the country and I say we because
around the country and I say we because
around the country and I say we because I can’t do this by myself and one of my
I can’t do this by myself and one of my
I can’t do this by myself and one of my happiest moments earlier this year was
happiest moments earlier this year was
happiest moments earlier this year was when I had a number of people say that
when I had a number of people say that
when I had a number of people say that they’d like to join me and they want to
they’d like to join me and they want to
they’d like to join me and they want to push this movement as well they want to
push this movement as well they want to
push this movement as well they want to be my instructors so I now have 11 other
be my instructors so I now have 11 other
be my instructors so I now have 11 other instructors around they come around the
instructors around they come around the
instructors around they come around the country teaching what we teach with she
country teaching what we teach with she
country teaching what we teach with she flies and as much as I love what I do
flies and as much as I love what I do
flies and as much as I love what I do why we do it in my ideal world she flies
why we do it in my ideal world she flies
why we do it in my ideal world she flies wouldn’t exist because it wouldn’t need
wouldn’t exist because it wouldn’t need
wouldn’t exist because it wouldn’t need to thank you
to thank you
to thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
”
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