Science NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE FORUM I had the pleasure of attending National Youth Science Forum from the 4 -16 January in Canberra at The Australian National University (ANU).The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) program exceeded all my expectations by far.
incredible weeks to share in our passion for science. My group was specific to Engineering and most days consisted of visiting remarkable places around Canberra. This included giant telescopes and various industries such as Lockheed Martin and The Canberra Railway Museum. A highlight of the trip was a press conference to learn about the Large Hadron Collider in Germany.
Each student was grouped with 13 other students in their selected area of interest in STEM (acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). I was placed in the Chemistry group Curie, named in honour of Marie Curie - the physicist and chemist who Mission to pioneered research into radioactivity. Mars - Science Each group went on a range of lab visits that were in-line with their area of interest. For Curie, this was made up of a visit to a laboratory specially designed for dating rocks, the Cotter dam, the ACTEW water treatment plant, a pharmaceutical testing company, the molecular biology lab at the ANU’s John Curtin School of Medical Research and ANU’s chemistry lab. These lab visits were fascinating as they revealed aspects of STEM that I had never considered before. For example, during the lab visits to the JCSMR molecular biology lab and chemistry lab at ANU we performed titrations. These were exciting because we got the opportunity to see and use sophisticated lab technology. We had the chance to mix with esteemed and influential scientists at science dinners. One such scientist was Brian Schmidt, who received a Nobel Prize in Physics for providing evidence that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. Lectures and seminars were included amongst the lab visits and social events of the NYSF. These presentations covered topics such as entrepreneurship, critical thinking, approaching Year 12 and equality in science. I particularly enjoyed the lecture about approaching Year 12 as we received practical advice about studying whilst maintaining other aspects of your life, the type of mindset that is healthy to have as well as advice about what happens after Year 12.
& Engineering Challenge
Overall the trip was very worthwhile, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a passion for science, as the experience and knowledge they gain will be priceless! - Benjamin Kenworthy, Year 12
Hovercraft - Science & Engineering Challenge Robots at Science Week
The National Youth Science Forum taught me new and amazing things about the scientific world, along with valuable life skills and aided my personal development. I met amazing people and made new friends during the forum. I will never forget my time at the NYSF. - Matthew Oyang, Year 12 National Youth Science Forum was an amazing journey. Two hundred individuals came from across the globe for 2 Benjamin Kenworthy at the National Youth Science Forum
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One of my favourite parts of the trip was the opportunity to visit Parliament House, receiving a grand tour, learning the depths of Australian Politics and how scientific issues are handled in the system. There were 150 of us who did a mock Parliament where I was lucky enough to be the Prime Minister - Mr Turnbull! In debate we crushed the Labour and Greens on water, and then backed it up with a comfortable win in the votes 80-60. After which I was able to meet Mr Turnbull and discuss various parliamentary issues, including climate change, and Australia’s war on terror.
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING CHALLENGE On Thursday 28 April, 20 enthusiastic Year 10 students attended Deakin University for the 2016 Science and Engineering Challenge. During the day the students competed against other schools to get hands-on with a variety of different activities including building bridges, wiring virtual cities, designing robotic hands and building a hovercraft. Whilst our boys were strong competitors, the St Joseph’s teams placed 4th overall. The students were also treated to a visit to the High Voltage Lab, a key facility within the CADET centre at Deakin, that dazzled all with tangible lightning bolts. The aim of the challenge was to give students access to activities they would not normally experience in schools and show them that STEM is an important part of their everyday life; something they should think about as a possible career in the future. - Nerrida Holland, Science Teacher
RACI TITRATION VICTORIAN SCHOOLS COMPETITION Each year, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Victorian Branch invites students from Years 10, 11 and 12 to compete in a titration competition. Students are required to apply
Matthew Oyang at the National Youth Science Forum
Science & Engineering Challenge
