Emma Boyd

Women of STEM Scholarship Winner

Award Date:

2025

STEM Interests

Currently studying a Bachelor of Engineering Honours and Bachelor of Environmental Science.

A Bit About Me

Hi, I’m Emma, and I am a passionate change maker, inspired to protect and help our natural environment. So far I have been on a wild journey – from helping launch and create a CubeSat satellite to being elected as a 2025 Queensland Youth parliament member. Throughout school I did heaps of volunteering with Cancer Council Queensland, Landcare Gold Coast and with Earthwatch Australia, helping to protect our precious mangrove ecosystems.

I love hiking, camping and taking on new adventures, but most importantly I am dedicated to being a voice of change and inspiring a brighter future. Outside my ambitions, I play tennis and violin and also enjoy stand-up paddle boarding! I’m currently studying Environmental Science and Engineering Honours at Griffith University on the Gold Coast and am keen to continue sharing my passion for making a difference and am excited to embark on this newfound journey.

Questions and Answers

Tell us about someone who inspires you and why

How did you become interested in STEM?

What are you most looking forward to about studying STEM at university?

How will the Women of STEM Scholarship assist you?

My biggest inspiration is Steve Irwin. As a passionate environmentalist myself and with family up on the sunny coast, his passion for protecting our natural world has inspired me from a young age. I look up to his perseverance and enthusiasm for making change. It’s amazing how beautiful and diverse our backyard is, from red soil and desert oaks to the Gondwana rainforests—it deserves to be protected.

Irwin’s inspiring message ignited mine, along with all the experiences on the way, which have opened my perspective, strengthened my confidence, and inspired me to empower others and share this spark to make a real difference.

I have always been curious about the world around me since I was little. I absolutely love gardening, geology, and experimenting with new plants, especially with succulents that I would sell at farmers markets to raise money for the Cancer Council and a multitude of other amazing foundations! These interests have led me to be a part of initiatives in the space and conservation field, where I’ve been involved in various research projects, specifically with mangrove restoration and policy making. These opportunities allowed me to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the world around me, and I’m so excited to continue on this learning journey in the STEM field.

I’m excited to be learning and exploring topics that I am deeply passionate about, especially about Earth systems and geography. It’s a new beginning, and so far it has been an enriching start with my place in the Student Academy of Excellence, where I look forward to travelling overseas, immersing myself in new cultures, environments, and undoubtedly working on community biodiversity and conservation projects. I’m keen to be a part of the Millennium Fellowship and bring forth exciting initiatives about volunteering, conservation, and ultimately inspiring the new wave of change-makers. But most importantly, I’m eager to partner engineering with environmental science and really dive into policy making and environmental management.

I believe the Women of STEM Scholarship Program provides me with an incredible platform, opportunity to network, and resources to further develop my scientific skills, towards making a meaningful impact in the STEM field. This scholarship helps alleviate the ultimate pressures of tuition and financial hardships when undertaking a dual degree. I’m excited to be dedicating more time to academic excellence and expanding my environmental stewardship, but ultimately, keen to open doors to future opportunities with the Women of STEM community.

What job do you hope to pursue after graduating from university?

I hope to pursue a career focused within governance, ecological conservation, and research communication! I have a whole lot of passion and enthusiasm in these fields, where I aspire to fulfil a role in policy-making and to work alongside STEM initiatives to advocate for bridging the gap between urbanisation and the preservation of natural ecosystems.

The path I take next is unknown, but I am always taking on any opportunity I can to help pave new ambitions towards a sustainable and brighter future. In the coming years, however, I hope to build on my social enterprise ‘Eco Agents’, an ecological internal education program that aims to foster environmental awareness for our future generations.