Attendance: 39 Members: 26 (of 47) 55% Guests: 13
Speaker: Opal Scheele and Georgia Law-Bianchin Topic: Discovering STEM Pathways at NYSF
Club members enjoyed an inspiring evening at the February 26 meeting when two impressive young Australians shared their experiences at the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF). Georgia Law-Bianchin from Toorak College and Opal Scheele from St Catherine’s School, Toorak, were sponsored by the Rotary Club of Glenferrie to attend the residential program at the University of Queensland in January. Members heard first-hand how the experience broadened their horizons and deepened their enthusiasm for future careers in science.
Founded in 1984 and supported by Rotary Clubs across Australia, the NYSF brings together Year 12 students with a passion for STEM to explore the wide range of study and career pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through laboratory visits, workshops and interaction with leading researchers and industry experts, the program provides an immersive introduction to the possibilities of a future in STEM.
But what of Georgia and Opal's experience? Well, Opal has provided an informative written report below, while Georgia's experience is reflected in pictures which, after all, are worth a thousand words!
My NYSF Experience - Opal Scheele, St Catherine's School, Toorak
Each day was packed full of visits to different labs, tours around different universities and industrial facilities, fun bonding activities between the other NYSF participants, networking events with industry professionals and lectures about different areas of STEM. These STEM visits were designed to put us in contact with as many different STEM disciplines as possible and expose us to every imaginable pathway we could go down.
My favourite events in particular were:
- The visit to the Integrated Pathology Learning Centre (IPLC)
a teaching space and museum of preserved organs. We were able to see healthy organs and compare them to those that had been damaged by certain diseases and unhealthy practices such as smoker’s lungs, kidney parasites, hearts etc - The bioplastics manufacturing lab at the University of Queensland We were introduced to the theory behind bioplastics and how they were made.
- Careers Expo
Where we were able to ask questions and learn about a multitude of universities. Here we also met different PhD candidates and were able to ask them about their research, as well as meeting many industry professionals.
The staff (staffies) members were one of the highlights of the camp. As they were only recently graduated from high school in their first or second years of university, they were a wealth of knowledge.
My NYSF Experience in Pictures - Georgia Law-Bianchin, Toorak College
Day 1: The School of Chemistry and molecular biosciences UQ |
Day 2: Careers day and speed meet |
Day 3: ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites and Live cross |
Day 4: Great debate and Museum of Modern Art |
Day 5: Science communication workshop |
Day 6: QUT sport science and UQ Vet Hospital |
Georgia and Opal’s presentations highlighted just how valuable programs like the National Youth Science Forum are in opening young minds to the many possibilities within STEM. Through laboratory visits, discussions with researchers and industry professionals, and the friendships formed with like-minded students from across Australia, the experience clearly left a lasting impression.
The Rotary Club of Glenferrie is proud to support opportunities such as this and looks forward to seeing where the future takes these two impressive young women.