Participants at the official opening of the STEMtastic Adventures with Young Pacific Leaders

The Pacific region’s inaugural STEMtastic Adventures with Young Pacific Leaders Symposium was officially opened today by the U.S. Ambassador to Fiji, Her Excellency Marie C. Damour, at the Fiji National University’s (FNU) Namaka Campus.

The symposium is co-hosted by the Fiji National University, the University of the South Pacific, and the mEducation Alliance (mEA), with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Young Pacific Leaders Initiative.

This three-day event provides an important platform for sharing best practices, accelerating knowledge exchange, fostering networks, and creating opportunities for partnerships and funding. It has brought together representatives from the governments of Fiji, American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, and Kiribati, alongside industry representatives, non-profits, donors, and development agencies working across the Pacific Islands.

Speaking at the opening, H.E. Damour highlighted the importance of looking to the future while remaining grounded in the Pacific’s rich traditional knowledge.

“This three-day symposium is about looking ahead, but we all stand on the firm foundation of our traditional cultures and ways. To see this combination reflected here is very meaningful, because unless you know where you come from, it is very hard to see where you are going,” said H.E. Damour.

She added that the symposium unites some of the region’s most promising young leaders, educators, and innovators, who are contributing to the future of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in ways that will have a tangible impact on Pacific communities. She also reaffirmed that the United States is a proud partner in this endeavour.

US Ambassador, H.E Marie C Damour (left) with FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba

FNU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba, expressed her strong support for the initiative, particularly its focus on blending STEM with traditional knowledge.

“With a combination of STEM and traditional knowledge, I believe the Pacific will find its answers. One week from now, we will be hosting a traditional knowledge conference at this same venue, and I think this symposium provides a strong build-up towards that event,” said the Vice-Chancellor.

She further noted that FNU has many Pacific experts among its faculty, adding that the university carries great responsibility to meet the expectations of the region.

“The Pacific has high expectations of FNU, and we need to build strong partnerships, such as with the U.S. Embassy and initiatives like STEMtastic. I believe STEM is our way forward. At FNU, we offer these programmes across all 17 campuses, and we are committed to bringing in global expertise to mentor our young leaders and inspire them to fall in love with STEM, as we are already doing through initiatives such as TVETFirst.”

Professor Nabobo-Baba also challenged participants, particularly young Pacific leaders, along with FNU staff and students, to do more in harnessing STEM to create sustainable and innovative solutions to the challenges faced by Pacific communities.