Fourteen Year 11 students from the Campbelltown region have won a 2017 Victor Chang School Science award.
Nominated by their teachers from across 14 different schools in the region, these students have shown tenacity and commitment in the classroom despite a nationwide decline of participation in school science, currently at the lowest level in over two decades.
The students will be acknowledged at a ceremony in the Campbelltown Civic Hall this Thursday (November 16).
Dr Joshua Ho from the Victor Chang Institute and Campbelltown deputy mayor Meg Oates will be presenting the awards to the students this Thursday.
Dr Ho says nurturing the future of Australian research is vital.
“Australia has such a proud science history, and through acknowledging these young students we’re giving the next generation of scientists the opportunity to see how research can directly touch people’s everyday lives,” he said.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“As a scientist, not only are you contributing to building knowledge, but you are constantly solving problems and seizing opportunities while improving the wellbeing of society.’’[/social_quote]
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic, said Campbelltown City Council was pleased to support the awards.
He said the awards played an important part in fostering the talent of exceptional and passionate science students and promoting the role of science in the wider community.
“I applaud the work of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, and hope these awards inspire recipients to pursue a career in medicine or research, and to use their knowledge of, and passion for science to benefit the wider community,” he said.
As part of their award, the 14 Campbelltown winners will also join more than 200 students from across NSW to take part in a tour of the Victor Chang Institute, and have the opportunity to learn firsthand from world-renowned Australian scientists.
It is great to see such a multicultural group to represent our Macarthur are