The University of Queensland will host the national launch of the 1998-99 season of The Siemens Science Experience on Thursday, July 16 at the Axon Room, Student Union Building at 10am.
The Federal Minister for Industry Science and Tourism, John Moore, will launch the program, which last year attracted 3000 students in all Australian states.
National director Dr Don Sinclair said The Siemens Science Experience was a three-day hands-on program offered by 33 university campuses to students about to enter Year 10 in all Australian states and territories.
"The program aims to introduce middle secondary-level students to some of the wonders of science and technology to stimulate their interest, and in the hope they will continue their studies in later secondary and tertiary education," he said.
Dr Sinclair said the program at each participating university was unique but all emphasised hands-on activities in science and engineering.
Students performed experiments and other practical work in university laboratories, attended lectures, and visited industries and other places of scientific interest. Most programs included barbecues and social activities, such as a disco.
Director of The Siemens Science Experience at the University of Queensland Dr Alan Jones said the 200 students attending the 1998 UQ program attended workshops ranging from cryptology to chemical reactions, color and slime. Their excursions included the University Mine, the W.C. Fields waste treatment plant at Redland Bay, DPI Animal Research Laboratories and QUT research laboratories.
More than 18,000 students have attended a Siemens Science program since the concept was introduced in 1990 in Melbourne.
Dr Sinclair said this year's national launch in Queensland recognised that Queensland student participation in The Siemens Science Experience was the highest of any state. In 1997/98, 737 students took part.
In 1995 The Siemens Science Experience expanded to New Zealand as a Rotary project and is now offered at nine campuses, with further expansion planned.
The major program sponsor is giant German multi-national electronics and electrical company Siemens Ltd, which has been linked with Australia for more than 100 years since its porcelain insulators were used in the Overland Telegraph Line between Darwin and Adelaide.
Each of the 23 Rotary districts in Australia support The Siemens Science Experience as a Rotary youth service project and hundreds of Rotarians play an active role in sponsoring students, lecturers, industrial visit hosts and supervisors.
The cost for a student to attend the program is $55 and Rotary clubs sponsor many students. Program sponsors also include The Science Schools Foundation Inc., Australian Science Teachers Association Inc., Education Queensland, Queensland Alumina Ltd, Incitec Ltd and the Young Scientists of Australia.
Host institutions and dates this year are:
Queensland: James Cook University, Townsville, September 29 - October 1, 1998.
University of Queensland, Brisbane; Central Queensland University, Rockhampton; Griffith University, Gold Coast; Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane; Southbank Institute of TAFE, South Brisbane, January 19-21, 1999.
James Cook University, Cairns, June 22-24, 1999.
Australian Capital Territory: Australian National University, September 28-30, 1998.
New South Wales: University of New South Wales, Kensington, September 30-October 2, 1998.
Charles Sturt University, Bathurst; Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga; Macquarie University, Macquarie; University of New England, Armidale; University of Sydney, Sydney; University of Western Sydney, Macarthur; University of Wollongong, Wollongong, January 19-21, 1999.
South Australia: Flinders University, Adelaide; University of Adelaide, Adelaide; University of South Australia, The Levels, January 19-21, 1999.
Tasmania: University of Tasmania, Hobart ; University of Tasmania, Launceston, January 19-21, 1999.
Victoria: Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn; Victoria University of Technology, Footscray, September 29-October 1, 1998.
Deakin University, Geelong; La Trobe University, Bundoora; Monash University, Clayton; RMIT University, Melbourne; University of Ballarat, Ballarat; University of Melbourne, Parkville, January 19-21, 1999.
Western Australia: Curtin University of Technology, Perth; Edith Cowan University, Bunbury; Edith Cowan University, Joondalup; University of Western Australia, Perth, January 19-21, 1999.
For further information about the program, contact Dr Sinclair, telephone (03) 9428 8966, Queensland co-ordinator Tony Winter, telephone (07) 3343 2088 or Dr Jones, telephone (07) 3365 3262.
