Between January 6 and 23, as part of the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 Program, 460 students are busy living on campus for a total of nine days at the Australian National University and the University of Queensland.
During this time they’re being immersed in STEM and engaging with researchers and innovators in a variety of fields ranging from AI and cybersecurity to environmental science, health and medicine, and engineering.
The program takes young people outside the classroom to meet real-life STEM workers and hear about the many different areas and career pathways they can explore and offers a chance to explore unique science and technology facilities and industries in person – bringing home the reality of a career in a whole range of areas.
As examples, tomorrow, at UQ’s ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success, students will step into the role of pollen detectives to solve a critical issue facing the Australian honey industry: counterfeit honey, while on Monday (January 20) at UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, students will discover how mRNA is used to develop vaccines.
Dr Melanie Bagg, CEO of the NYSF, says the Year 12 program is a life-changing experience for students, opening doors to STEM opportunities and empowering them to pursue careers that will shape the future.
“For over 40 years, NYSF has inspired and connected young Australians with their STEM future, our 15,000+ former participants have achieved so much in both STEM and STEM adjacent careers,” Bagg says.
“The diversity of our participants and the range of STEM disciplines we cover are critical to delivering Australia’s future science and technology workforce.
STEM needs diverse teams of people who are nimble and can think creatively to solve our biggest problems, according to Bagg.
“NYSF takes STEM out of subject stereotypes and allows young people of all abilities and backgrounds to find the right path for them.”
This year 44 per cent of participants are from remote and regional areas, 67 per cent are young women and 3 per cent identify as Indigenous.
The NYSF Year 12 Program is an important opportunity for young STEM enthusiasts to meet their people.
Often, students from regional and remote areas do not have a network of people around them who are interested in science and technology, making it hard to see what they want their pathway to be.
This year 44 per cent of participants are from remote and regional areas, 67 per cent are young women and 3 per cent identify as Indigenous.
They’re travelling from all over Australia, from Alice Springs, remote Queensland, northern Tasmania, and rural Western Australia.
The NYSF strives to foster an environment that reflects the true diversity of Australia’s youth, ensuring that every student has an opportunity to engage with STEM studies and careers, regardless of background.
Thanks to the generosity of sponsors and partners—including the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, The Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, The ARC Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology (QUBIC), Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre and private donors, 71 students received scholarships to participate.
Selection for the program is based on passion and interest for STEM and who will benefit the most from the experience.
Not being purely based on academic achievement means that the NYSF community fosters inclusivity and reflects the diversity of the Australian population.
Support is also provided to individual participants via NYSF’s Founding Partner, Rotary. Rotary Clubs all over Australia fundraise tirelessly to ensure that financial barriers do not limit access to this transformative experience.
