Over the past three weeks, two students from QAHS 'got their science on' and participated in the 2021 National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 Program.
Lily Brown and Gihansa Kottasha Vidhanelage were amongst 560 students about to enter Year 12 who were selected to participate in the new-look program which included a digital component, combined with state-based in-person STEM visits. The 2021 NYSF Year 12 Program focussed on exploring study and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
CEO of the National Youth Science Forum, Dr Melanie Bagg, said the program was transformational with a significant number of participants going on to study or work in STEM.
"At NYSF, students not only explore diverse areas of STEM, but build their first professional network with other young people Australia wide who share their passion."
''The NYSF is proud to be engaging Australia's future STEM workforce with a range of universities and industry STEM facilities across Australia in 2021. There couldn't be a more important time for young people to learn what study and job opportunities await them", said Dr Bagg.
The 2021 NYSF Year 12 Program featured online sessions from two Nobel Prize winners, over 20 top experts in subjects ranging from venom to drones, workshops with leading scientists and STEM organisations, and an array of live crosses to some of the world's best science and technology facilities, including to Casey Station in Antarctica and CERN in Switzerland.
Plus, there is more! 2021 NYSF Year 12 Program students joined an online house party with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and spent an evening with Astronomer and Women in STEM Ambassador, Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith. In a first, the NYSF held a range of live Science@Home digital experiences and workshops with science communicators.
The National Youth Science Forum has delivered life-changing STEM experiences for 38 years, and 2021 was no different! Usually a 10-day residential experience, the Covid-19 pandemic has meant a total reinvention for this iconic program. The NYSF rose to the challenge delivering a predominantly digital program with in-person visits across the country, including a range of hands-on STEM visits in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast.
Close to 600 students were selected from 1,100 applicants to participate in the 2021 Program across the nation from 5-22 January, 2021.
Mr Paul Mitchell
HOD Science and Enrichment
