1998 School Magazine

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Girls 6rammar ^iconol ;!artsbane 1998

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Student Achievers

THE I^ltO TINTO NATTONAL YOLi'I'ti SCIENCE FORl. TM

e have been in the building where Nobel Prize winners have worked. We have sat in the office where Gough Whitlam was dismissed. We have spoken with world renowned mumunologist, Professor Sir Gustav Nossal. We have been to the Rio Tinto National Youth Science Forum. The ino Tinto Na-

because it allowed science to be extended beyond classroom boundaries The jam-packed program also included non-science based activities, focussing on personal development and coriumunica- lion. At student forums, the issues of "Energy policies for the

21st Century", "The future of Science and Technology in AUS- tralia" and "Environ- mental preservation" were debated. Coin- inUniCatiOn SellruiarS, negotiation skills workshops, and uni- versity entry talks were emphasised in the program because of the recognition that such skills and knowledge will be essential for the pro- motion of Australian science Other highlights of the program in- cluded visits to the Telstra Tower at Black Mountain, to

lional Youth Science Forum brings together students from around Australia and overseas with an interest in sci- ence. The forum aims to broaden each par- ticipanr's knowledge of science-based fields and encourage them to pursue a ca- Teer in science. From 16-31 January, we, Emma Carlisle and Katie Mendra, along with 164 other SLu- dents attended the fo- rum at the University of Canberra Students are grouped according to their interest in biol-

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Emma C@fitsle (Z) with the GOPemor General, Sir William De@ite

ogy, chemistry or physics. Each group visits at least ten scientific institutions throughout the two weeks. among other institutions, we visited the Australian Institute of Sport, the NASA Space Track- ing Station, the 10ha Cumn School of Medical Research, the Red Cross Blood Bank, the CSIRO Divisions of Plant In- dusky, Forestry and Entomology, the Royal Australia Mint and the Mt Strollxho Observatory During laboratory visits, scientists in- troduced us to a variety of scientffic fields and explained the outstanding capacity of Australian research. This process CUI- inmated in the Science Dinner, where Professor Sir Gustav Nossal was the guest speaker. Here students had the OPPortu- nity to approach all of the scientists from all of the institutions involved with the forum. This arrangement impacted greatly

the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve for a group and to Yarralumla to meet the picnic, Governor General, Sir William Deane, and his wife Lady Deane, who are patrons of the program After two weeks, the National Youth Science Forum had finished for another year. We hope that many girls apply to the forum and have the opportunity to gain as much as we have.

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KATIE MENDRA EMMA CARLISLE

Kane Mendr@ conducting ,," experiment