Four PhD students from The University of Queensland (UQ) will this week receive recognition as Young Science Ambassadors from the Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering (ATSE).
The students will receive ATSE’s inaugural Young Science Ambassador Awards at Queensland Parliament House and will meet MP’s during Science In Parliament Day on October 6.
UQ Centre for Functional Nanomaterials director Professor Max Lu, who helped organise the award, said they would encourage young scientists to promote science and science education.
“To give them this award, it is recognition of their doing science and also recognition of their ability to promote science, in other words their ambassador skills,” Professor Lu said.
“These four are all top students with the outstanding academic and personal qualities needed for promoting science and engineering,” Professor Lu said.
Queensland State Development and Innovation Minister Tony McGrady will present the Young Science Ambassador Award to each of the UQ recipients.
Professor Lu said the Science Ambassadors were an important addition for science in Queensland, because university enrolments in science and engineering had been in decline.
“More science teachers in private and public schools will help address this problem,” Professor Lu said.
He said the key to reinvigorate interest in science was through being able to excite primary and secondary school students.
Professor Lu said the Science Ambassadors were the perfect way to do this because they had a strong academic record and the personal qualities to connect with young students.
The Science Ambassadors will visit at least 16 metropolitan and regional schools around Queensland to give presentations about their area of study.
The UQ awardees of the Young Science Ambassador awards are: Bradley Ladewig, Jennifer Riesz, Joel Gilmore and Nathan Langford.
Professor Lu thanked Theiss Pty Ltd and Genetic Solutions Pty Ltd for sponsoring the awardss.
The awards will be presented by Queensland Division Chairman of ATSE, Else Shepherd AM.
Media: for more information, contact Else Shepherd (telephone 0411 179 934, email mosaiq@ozemail.com.au). The students will be available for photographs at the event.
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