Sponsors needed for country science students

Friday, 6 March 1998

The University of Adelaide is calling for industry support to help bring promising secondary science students from remote areas of the State to Adelaide for National Science Week in May.

National Science Week - a joint initiative of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the Australian Teachers' Association and the Australian Science Festival - is aimed at giving students a hands-on experience of science, technology and engineering.

"All students, especially those from the country, will benefit greatly from the stimulus provided by Science Week activities," says Mr Philip Stott, Associate Dean for External Relations from the University's Faculty of Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences.

"Unfortunately, rural students are often disadvantaged by their lack of access to the city. Since National Science Week will have a very strong urban focus, students from South Australia's more remote areas need industry support to ensure they don't miss out."

Mr Stott says generous sponsorship of a number of students has already been received from Optima Energy, GH Michell and Sons Pty Ltd and Western Mining Corporation. Students being sponsored are from Leigh Creek Area School, Port Augusta schools, Quorn and Hawker Area Schools, and Roxby Downs Area School.

But he says more support is needed to bring students to Adelaide for the event from May 2-10.

"This may be the only opportunity many of these students get to experience a hands-on, comprehensive showcase of science, engineering and technology," Mr Stott says.

"Hopefully, with the help of industry, we can foster the interest these students have in science. This experience could not only shape the students' future, but it could also be of great benefit to South Australia's future."

Mr Stott said the cost of sponsoring one student during National Science Week was only about $400, an investment which may provide a student with a career path and ensure that science retained "the best people".

Many of the National Science Week activities in South Australia will take place at the Waite Campus of the University of Adelaide - a world class teaching and research facility.

It houses the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), three divisions of the CSIRO, the Australian Wine Research Institute, Primary Industries and Resources SA, as well as five Cooperative Research Centres.

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