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UNE scientists to inspire school students

January 11, 2006

StephanieM.thumb.JPGSome of The University of New England’s most distinguished scientists will inspire school students participating in a three-day science program at the University next week.

The annual Siemens Science Experience allows students entering Year 10 to get a taste of the excitement of cutting-edge science as it happens in the university laboratory and lecture room.

Dr Jim McFarlane, director of the Siemens Science Experience program at UNE, said a major aim of the program was to encourage students with an interest in science to continue their studies at school. “We want them to realise that science is relevant to a wide range of professions – not just to becoming a scientist,” he said. “Year 10 is when they start to specialise, so it’s important for them to appreciate the relevance of science at this stage.”

This year’s Siemens Science Experience at UNE will run from Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 January. More than 60 students from schools throughout northern NSW will become involved in hands-on activities and attend entertaining short lectures. “They’re coming from along the coast to the east and as far west as Coonabarabran,” Dr McFarlane said.

“The activities are designed to give them an opportunity to use research equipment and to get a glimpse of some of the things that scientists do on a day-to-day basis,” he explained. Those activities will include making aspirin, extracting DNA, examining microbes, analysing musical sounds, and programming robots. The subjects of the lectures will range from the basic chemistry of life to the biology and behaviour of birds.

The Siemens Science Experience is a national program conducted at universities in association with local Rotary Clubs and with the support of Young Scientists of Australia and the Australian Science Teachers’ Association.

As well as attending lectures and becoming engaged in laboratory experiments and fieldwork, the students gain valuable experience of life on a university campus. At UNE there is the opportunity to stay in a student residence on campus (this year, Mary White College) and, in the evenings, to take part in a wide range of games and sporting activities at Sport UNE under the direction of trained instructors.


Media contact: Dr Jim McFarlane, School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, UNE (02) 6773 3201 or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.

The photograph of Stephanie Miller displayed here was taken during last year's Siemens Science Experience at UNE.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at January 11, 2006 04:34 PM