Young people say ‘Yes’ to exciting careers in science
Over 400, year 10 to 12, secondary school students attended this year’s Annual Schools Science Conference entitled Science in Health and Life. This was the 5th event showcasing the myriad exciting careers open to those who study science.
One student remarked “I’m studying all three sciences and I would really like to do science as a career as well, so this event has given me the perfect opportunity to find out what areas of healthcare science I can go into, the qualifications required, the different degrees and diplomas, as well as people to provide advice.”
Over 100 volunteer presenters, from healthcare and other sciences, showed ingenuity and originality in the design of their interactive displays to showcase their profession, to give the students a chance to try out some of the procedures and to show how important and exciting science can be. New this year were the focus groups and “Café Scientifique” debating important issues such as the ethics behind transplantation, the good and evil applications of scientific discovery, communicating healthcare messages, and the importance of diet for growth, development, health and well-being. The students learned about what employers are looking for and about the new Society, Health and Development Diploma.
There were two main sessions. The first was Peak Fitness from Hugh Montgomery and Paul Gunning – two of the doctors/scientists who scaled Mount Everest in 2007 to investigate how the body adapts to low oxygen levels. The second was The Delights of Chemistry from Mike Hoyland and Dale Hoyland, showing the students amazing chemical reactions, complete with flashes of light, loud bangs and explosions.
There were numerous hands-on interactive displays where the students could try out various techniques and bits of equipment, and, as importantly, to meet the scientists that use them. The students questioned the scientists about everything – the intricacies of the science, the workings of the equipment, the qualifications required, the pay and conditions, as well as what was enjoyable about their jobs. The students learned that scientists are very approachable, very knowledgeable and very excited by their science, and the scientists found out that the students were really interested and asked very searching questions.
Launched at the conference was the new website – www.science4u.info – which contains reports from the conference, pictures and videos, a workbook, the Ask the Scientist section and the Virtual Laboratory tour in which students can navigate their way through a working laboratory, meet the scientists, and learn more about the science.
At the end of the day, there was the usual prize giving for winners of the various quizzes and competitions as well as the raffle, based on completed feedback questionnaires, for two Olympus digital cameras.
The obvious success of the conference was evident in the enjoyment of the students who left the conference clutching bags full of information and with grinning faces full of enthusiasm for science. Their teachers are beginning to report that our previous events have inspired students to apply for HE courses in science and to cite the conference as stimulating their interest. One teacher reported that today’s presentations reinforced what he had just been teaching and provided additional information for the students’ course work.
The Conference would not have been so successful without the enthusiastic participation of the Healthcare and other Scientists, the students and their teachers. The Conference Organising Team send them a great big Thank You. The Team are also indebted to our numerous sponsors and well-wishers listed on the website and programme.
Don Henderson (Chairman, science4u Organising Group)
April 2008
Follow this link to see photographs from the 2008 Schools Science Conference
The selection of high-resolution images may be reproduced freely to illustrate Don Henderson's above report.Please obtain permission before reproducing the images for any other purpose: email s4u@science4u.info.
All images are © 2008 science4u