More than 190 high school students from Queensland and northern New South Wales will converge on The University of Queensland next week to discover the wonders of science and technology.
The Siemens Science Experience, which runs from January 23 to 25, will be a fun three days of hands-on science activities for students about to enter Year 10. Participants will visit mine sites and museums and will take part in various laboratory workshops conducted by some of UQ`s leading scientific minds.
UQ director of The Siemens Science Experience Dr Adrian Bradley said the university environment would provide experiences not normally available in schools.
“Often the bridge between school and university is a large one to cross. The Siemens Science Experience demystifies university and gives students a hands-on opportunity to learn from various experts and find out what careers are available within the scientific field,” Dr Bradley said.
Workshops will cover areas including anatomy, physics, engineering, chemistry, computational science, mathematics, neurophysiology, materials science and biology.
Students will help catch a fiendish criminal through forensic techniques; discover how computational science can be used to explore some of the how’s and why’s of plant growth, investigate the human brain and its building block the neuron, extract DNA and examine how game show contestants maximise their winnings.
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield will deliver the welcoming address at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, January 23 at the Steele Lecture Theatre at 9am.
The Executive Deans of the Faculty of Biological and Chemical Sciences (BACS) Professor Mick McManus and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture (EPSA) Professor Stephen Walker will also attend the ceremony.
About 250 students attending The Siemens Science Experience hosted by Griffith University and Queensland University of Technology will join the UQ participants for the closing ceremony at the UQ Centre on Thursday, January 22.
During the ceremony Chris Krishna-Pillay from CSIRO Education in Melbourne will present the “Big Science Gig” show.
The Siemens Science Experience was introduced in Melbourne in 1990 and is currently operated by 34 universities throughout Australia.
The event is supported by Rotary and Queensland Rotarians will play an active role in hosting students. Program sponsors include Biotechnology Australia and the Queensland Museum.
Media: For more information, contact Dr Adrian Bradley, telephone 07 3365 3386 or mobile 0419 796 553 or email a.bradley@uq.edu.au or Jan King at 0413 601 248.
