Budding Rural Scientists Visit Sydney

Students from local CEFA Education Foundation communities travelled to Sydney recently to take part in the 2010 Careers in Science Program.

Fully funded by the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) the program is part of the university’s commitment to teaching students about the tertiary and career prospects within the science sector as well as increasing students’ interest and aspiration for working in this field when they leave school.

The participating students, from Broken Hill, Narrabri, Temora, Willyama and Yass High Schools, are currently studying science subjects at school and considering a future career in this field.

Flying to Sydney on the Monday morning, the students and teachers were invited to the CSIRO’s campus in North Ryde. There they were addressed by Dr Bruce Lee, winner of Rabobank’s 2010 Leadership Award. Dr Lee is Director of the CSIRO’s Future Foods Flagship and a world-renowned scientist. Generously giving of his time, Dr Lee was excited to speak with the rural students about his career path in science – particularly the places it had taken him around the world and the exciting developments he has been involved with. It was an inspiring and informative presentation.

Willyama High student, April Demery was delighted to be selected to participate in Careers in Science. “I’m really pleased that I attended the program because there was so much information available,” Miss Demery said. “I enjoyed learning about the different science options both at university and as a career.”

Attending UTS the following day, the future scientists took part in a series of workshops relating to Physics, Chemistry and Forensics, and Mathematics. The students created electrical circuits, dusted for fingerprints and applied mathematical patterns and equations to solve everyday challenges. They also heard from a UTS PhD student studying Fire Chemistry and learnt about the myriad of tertiary courses and career opportunities available to them.

“The program at UTS was really useful,” said Kate Constance from Narrabri. “It helped me decide on a university that I might like to attend and a course to study.”

This opportunity for rural students was made possible through their communities’ membership with the Country Education Foundation of Australia (CEFA). UTS is an Education Partner of CEFA’s, with both organisations working to provide opportunities and funding for rural youth to help them achieve their post high school educational aspirations.

“Being a member of CEFA allows us to provide even greater opportunities for our local youth, such as the Careers in Science Program,” said Temora & District Education Foundation Chairman, Rick Firman.

“A big thank you must go to UTS for making this all possible,” Mr Firman said. “We were really happy to be able to send our students to Sydney to partake in an event usually limited to metropolitan students.”