Glenmore Park High School’s April Abela was amongst ten of NSW’s brightest science students who recently converged on Canberra to meet leading Australian scientists.
The new STEM education initiative by the Australian Academy of Science saw the group of Year 12 HSC Science Extension students and their teachers attend the Academy’s annual showcase of science, Science at the Shine Dome, for the first time.
“My experience of Science at the Shine Dome was completely invaluable – not only for purposes of my own academic growth – but also socially, and personally. Myself, and the other like-minded hopeful scientists undergoing the new NESA Extension Science course were exposed to real-life issues in Australian science communicated by world leading researchers” explained April.
The Academy’s Secretary for Education and Public Awareness, Professor Hans Bachor, said picking only ten students from 67 applications was no easy task.
“It was clear from their applications that this group of students were absolutely passionate about science. After spending three days with some of Australia’s top scientists, they left with plenty of inspiration” Professor Bachor said.
“What young people see of STEM professionals shapes their beliefs and career aspirations. The Academy’s Women in STEM 10-year plan published last month highlights the importance of role models”.
The ten students and their teachers attended Science at the Shine Dome thanks to the generous support of the Academy’s STEM education partner 3M. It’s Australia Managing Director, Makoto Itoh, congratulated the Academy on creating a fantastic program to inspire Australia’s future scientists.
“By providing equal opportunity to all NSW Science Extension students and including their science teachers, we’re creating a winning formula for success and the advancement of science in Australia” Mr Itoh said.
“In future careers, these students could make their own scientific discoveries and apply them to solve some of life’s biggest problems. They could change the world—and that alone is worth its weight in gold”.
“I would love to recognise the generosity of the Australian Academy of Science, my science teacher and mentor Mr. Ashley Mulcahy, the academy’s education team, as well as the extensive contribution made by sponsors 3M, without of which I would have never been able to attend. It was an experience I’ll never forget” completed April.