Experts visit for science week

Experimenting with making ‘elephant’s toothpaste’ as part of National Science Week are Lismore High School students Kyle Bell (left), Rushdi Dai, Joe McAllister and Jake Baskerville.

SCIENCE staff from Macquarie University visited Lismore High School on Wednesday as part of National Science Week.

Science academic and the university’s director of the Indigenous Science Program, Associate Professor Joanne Jamie, said that the visit was in conjunction with Yaegal (Maclean area) and Bundjalung elders.

“We train indigenous students from Years 8, 9, and 10 to be demonstrators and teach the younger (Year 7) students,” she said.

“Hopefully there will be enough information to encourage indigenous students to complete their studies and ignite interest in careers in science.

“For six years Macquarie has collaborated with North Coast high schools to present the Indigenous Science Education Program, but we also encourage students to come to Macquarie University for various events there.”

Rushdi Dai, 15, said that it was a day of experiments using normal household items.

“We started with making slime from Borax and PVA glue, and moved around the room with a variety of different experiments, which are easy and a lot of fun,” he said.

“This is the first time Macquarie has brought this to our school and it’s really pretty good. I’m enjoying it because I like science. It’s probably my best subject. I think that all the students are enjoying it and should benefit from it.

“Hopefully they (Macquarie) will be back next year. It’s good for the younger kids to have some hands-on experience with people like those here today.”

Around 40 indigenous students from Casino, Lismore, and Maclean high schools were expected to be trained during the presentations.