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School students feel all the fun of scientific discovery

August 17, 2006

SciBush06.thumb.JPGFrom using stone-age tools to programming robots: school students from around northern NSW had a hands-on experience of scientific adventure at The University of New England yesterday.

More than 300 students from schools in Armidale, Uralla, Guyra, Inverell, Dorrigo, Toormina and Gunnedah visited UNE for the University’s fourth annual “Science in the Bush” event.

The students, all in Years 7-10, took part in activities with evocative titles such as “Weed Wipeout”, “Skull and Bone Challenge”, and “Out of the Swamp”. Other activities included freezing wattle in liquid nitrogen, finding buried treasure, and using fluorescence to identify an unknown substance. “Science in the Bush” is scheduled each year as a UNE contribution to National Science Week.

The Executive Dean of UNE’s Faculty of The Sciences, Professor Margaret Sedgley, welcomed the students, emphasising the importance of “fun” in the work of scientific discovery. The coordinator of the event, Dr Chris Fellows from UNE Chemistry, said it was “important for students to understand that science is not something that is unapproachable, but rather a real part of life here in New England”.

“A lot of students see the capital cities as where the ‘cutting edge’ of science is,” Dr Fellows continued. “I hope that days like these will help students realise that the same courses and learning experiences are offered right here at UNE.” Professor Sedgley, too, spoke about the advantages of a top-quality scientific education in a country environment.

Visitors from CSIRO and the Anglo-Australian Observatory contributed to the day’s activities, and there were two guest speakers sponsored by the Australian Institute of Political Science’s “Young Tall Poppies” program. These were Associate Professor Naomi Rogers from the University of Sydney and Associate Professor Suresh Mahalingam from the University of Canberra.

These two speakers also presented talks for the general public yesterday evening. Dr Rogers talked about the “science of sleep”, and Dr Mahalingam about mosquito-borne viruses. “The public lectures provide an opportunity for the general community, as well as students and academics, to participate in the world of science and the many avenues it opens up,” Dr Fellows said.

Two students from Dorrigo High School – Emily Johnson and Katherine Sangster – won the “science trivia quiz”. Contributors to the “Science in the Bush” program, hosted by UNE, included the University itself, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training, the Australian Poultry CRC, the Cotton Catchment Communities CRC, the “Young Tall Poppies” program, CSIRO, the Anglo-Australian Observatory, and the Universities of Sydney and Canberra.

THE PHOTOGRAPH displayed here shows Dr Chris Fellows (left) with UNE students Alex Fell and Samantha Turner, who were among the team of UNE staff and students involved in the presentation of "Science in the Bush".

Posted by Jim Scanlan at August 17, 2006 04:49 PM