The National Youth Science Forum
Melita Laurie-Rhodes was guest speaker at the Rotary Club of Alexandra this week was her experience.
“Arriving at the NYSF was possibly one of the most nerve wracking experiences of my life: being the only student from my school, and not having previously met any students meant that I was walking into a program in which I would be living with 200 total strangers. This ‘stranger’ status was quick to change, however. Meeting almost 200 other students, with whom I shared a passion for science, excitement for Year 12 and University and common goals and interests, we were quick to become great friends. The Staffies, with their exuberant natures, were quick to energise us and facilitate excitement, as well as initiate an atmosphere of friendship and family amongst us all. Outside of my interest group and floor group (who were perhaps my closest friends), I was able to speak to almost all of the other participants at mealtimes and during free time, and this was such a valuable experience: being able to meet other likeminded students from all over Australia and connect almost instantly was incredible.
The laboratory visits were, as I had heard, incredibly unique and gave us an insight into science that most others would never be able to experience. Being in the Health and Medical Science interest group, I visited many groundbreaking research facilities, including the John Curtain School of Medical Research, the labs at ACT pathology, and university laboratories at the University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University. We were able to see stem cells stored in liquid nitrogen tanks, thin sheets of mouse brains, meet scientists, professors and nurses participating in research at the forefront of their field, and see state of the art facilities and equipment, all of which I am sure I would never have been otherwise able to witness without having attended the NYSF.
Other notable activities at the NYSF included lectures from esteemed professors, doctors and scientists, ‘critical thinking’ and ‘what happens next’ workshops, a swing dancing lesson and a video conference with CERN in Switzerland. We were also able to participate in sports, music and swimming nights, as well as a visit to the Telstra Tower on Black Mountain. A day was dedicated entirely to the partners of the NYSF, both corporate partners and universities, and we were lucky enough to hear from the major partners about their initiatives, values, projects and career or study opportunities. We then had the opportunity to ‘speed date’ the representatives from these partners, which was an absolutely invaluable experience for all those involved. The day concluded with a dinner at the National Museum of Australia, which was a wonderful night filled with further discussion and even a speech from Dr Emma Johnston.
Overall, my time at the NYSF, whilst quantitatively being only a few days, has been perhaps the most enlightening and eye-opening 12 days of my life. Never before had I considered the sheer magnitude of opportunities available in year 12, university and beyond, nor had the opportunity to converse with 200 others who were just as excited about these opportunities as I was. I would like to express a very big thank you to my local Rotary Club, Alexandra, for their continuing support of myself and the NYSF, as it was thanks to them that I was able to experience the magic of attending the NYSF. I am now very excited to complete year 12 and hopefully go on to University to study science, as well as continue to endorse the NYSF to ensure students are able to experience the NYSF for many years to come.”