Guest Speaker
Chair Brian Murphy introduced Brooke McLeod - she and her husband are members of the Rotary Club of Warrnambool and Brooke acts a as an ambassador of the mentor program at Deakin University.
Brooke has not only a bach. of biomedical schice and a masters of teaching, but also two cats and a dislike of snakes!
Presenting tonight about the National Youth Science Forum the Program accepts up to 8 schools with 16 to 32 students per team learning and getting excited by challenges in the program. An opportunity to take the challenge to the state or even the National level with finals in Sydney.
Run by the University of Newcastle for year 9 and 10 students at a cost of around $10K for the program. Some additional costs include costs for schools to get the students to the challenge based in different locations such as Mt Gambier, Warrnambool, Geeloing, Bendigo, and Ballarat.
Although COVID cancelled the challenge and getting back from the lockdowns was slow in 2023, this year has seen all 8 places - full capacity, taken by local schools including Terang and Mortlake. Students rotate through a morning and afternoon session gaining points in activities such as Helter Skelter tower, Flight, Trip to Mars, Confounding Commuication, Job Juggle, Electracity and Fish traps, with a day challenge with one event called the Bridge.
This years forum takes place through National Science week August 13th 2024 and more Rotarian and friend volunteers are needed to help on the day -training is provided and no science knowledge is required!
The hope is to encourage more students to get excited by science and engineering and consider this in their careers choices, and maybe even encourage younger primary school students to have thier own day.
Thank you to the Rotary club of Portland for supporting the NYSF, and thanks Brooke for sharing your enthusiansm.
Dont forget our lids4kids program! Keep bringing them in!