13 January 2009
Australia's best and brightest young science minds are spending their summer holidays studying at Monash University's Clayton campus as part of the Australian Science Olympiad program.
The 56 Year 11 and 12 students will spend the next two weeks completing an entire first year university science course, which includes lab work, lectures and exams in the students' chosen speciality of biology, chemistry or physics.
From this demanding course 13 students will be selected to form teams in physics, chemistry and biology and will go on to represent Australia at the 2009 International Science Olympiads. In 2009 the International Olympiads will be hosted by Japan (Biology), England (Chemistry) and Mexico (Physics).
The students will work in Monash science laboratories and visit the Australian Synchrotron, a particle accelerator located adjacent to the Clayton campus.
Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Adam Shoemaker said that the University supported enhancement studies for pre-tertiary students through contact with exemplary teachers and mentors in high-standard facilities. This is a key theme of the recently-launched Monash Passport.
"Monash also sees science education and research as a vital part of the future growth of our country," Professor Shoemaker said.
"We believe the Australian Science Olympiad program is a tangible way of enhancing students' interests in developments in science, opening them up to the future career opportunities they can provide.
"Although these students are not yet at university level, they are very much intellectually at a university level.
"We hope that in supporting the Olympiads program we can improve their pre-tertiary study experience, inspire their future choices, and help them in their transition to university life."
Australian Science Olympiads is a program run by Australian Science Innovations, a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting science and enhancing the capability of Australia's science students.
For more information, contact Shaunnagh O'Loughlin, Media and Communications on +61 3 9903 4843 or 0448 574 148.
| 
