Student Voice

National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)

Over the summer holiday break, I travelled to Canberra to attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF). The NYSF is a 12 day year 12 Intensive Science Head Start Program aimed at developing students networking and social skills with science industry professionals and other students interested in STEM, on-site visits to top science facilities and labs, lectures and speeches from science entrepreneurs and fun tourist activities throughout the session!

 

 

On my trip I was in the Doherty interest group, (named after Dr Peter C Doherty who is an Australian vet and medical scientist) for students interested in medicine and health. In my group were students hailing from all over Australia, from Perth up to Cairns and all the way down the east coast of Australia. My interest group went on 3 lab visits, one to the John Curtain Medical School of Research at the ANU and we learnt about psychology and the brain of humans and mice. We also went to The University of Canberra and had workshops with specialists in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and midwifery, towards the end of the session my group also visited Capital Pathology in Canberra and did histology and pathology work. Going on the lab visits was so fun to see how different labs are set up and how the smallest of scientific inquiry can spark such a big experiment and research procedure.

 

We had elective visits where we could choose to specialise into other areas of science, on that trip I went to the ACU campus in Canberra and did paramedicine for the day, the hands-on experience and kinaesthetic learning that we participated in was one of my favourite parts of the trip!

 

Another aspect of science that we observed was our STEM+ day, in that we learnt about how STEM is used in other fields like humanities, politics, the arts and sport. I went to the art session and we observed the biological processes and appearance of dung beetles whilst drawing them.

 

In non-science related visits, we had private access to Parliament house and went on tours and workshops to enhance our understanding of how the Government uses science in lawmaking. I chose to visit the Telstra Tower on our tourist night, and it was so much fun exploring the city with my new friends and taking lots of pictures of the sunset at the top of the Telstra tower. Some other highlights of my trip were our science quiz, talent show, science disco, home hospitality rest day and our shopping trip to Canberra Central.

 

 

Experiencing life on campus at Burgman College in the ANU has been instrumental in developing my independence as I approach university. The careers and sponsors day was so fun to attend as all of the major company and university partners set up stalls for us to ask questions and learn about their courses and pathways that they offer to NYSF students exclusively.

 

NYSF has changed my life so much in such a good way, I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to represent my city and school on a national platform. I have made so many meaningful relationships with people all over Australia, met and learnt about world-renowned scientists, attended fun and interesting lectures and workshops and created so many memories to hold on to for the rest of my life.

 

Applications for 2020 open on March 1st at the NYSF website

https://www.nysf.edu.au/

 

Please send me an email at amcha4@schools.vic.edu.au or come and see me if you have any questions about applying for the NYSF.

 

Ainsley Chase 12H