Fair ignites passion for science in young minds

Fair ignites passion for science in young minds

More than 850 primary and high school students from the Illawarra, Sydney and beyond will present their experiments at the UOW Illawarra Coal Science Fair on Wednesday 5 November.

The UOW Illawarra Coal Science Fair is an innovative annual program aimed at inspiring school students to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This year’s event has attracted more than 850 students presenting more than 500 projects from 70 schools. The 2014 event marks nine years since its inception at UOW and twelve years of sponsorship by Illawarra Coal.

Illawarra Coal President Troy McDonald said the Company was excited to support the Science Fair, which is one of the most significant science events for primary and high school students in New South Wales.

“We are pleased to be involved with this program, which encourages young people to explore the exciting world of science, and develop their interest and talent in a field central to a variety of industries including our own,” Mr McDonald said.

A team of science mentors, enthusiastic science students from UOW, have been visiting schools to inspire students and provide practical advice on completing research projects to both students and teachers.

In 2014, and in conjunction with the Science Fair activities, the ANSTO Fact or Fiction Show is coming to UOW for the first time. Fact or Fiction will see the audience watch clips of classic sci-fi hits before individually voting, with hand held devices, on whether the technology featured is actual science fact or pure science fiction. Once the audience voting has been locked in, an ANSTO scientist will critique the science featured in the film and provide the answer.

EVENTS AND PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES - Wednesday 5 November 2014
10am - 12.30pm - 502 science projects on display and 857 students discussing their experiments with 175 judges, UOW Sports Hub (Building 9).
2pm - 3pm Winners announced at Awards Ceremony, University Hall (Building 11).
3pm - 3.30pm - Winning projects on display, UOW Sports Hub (Building 9).

MORE INFO: smah.uow.edu.au/sciencefair

MEDIA CONTACT: UOW Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, and Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, Schools Liaison Manager, Dr Melissa Thompson, +61 2 4221 3512 or +61 435 654 326.

SCHOOLS PARTICIPATING
Illawarra Region: Austinmer Public, Cedars Christian College, Illawarra Christian (Cordeaux), Lakelands Public, Keiraville Public, Mount Keira Demonstration, Mount Ousley Public, Shellharbour Public, St Columbkille's Primary, St Joseph's Primary Bulli, Stella Maris Primary, Thirroul Public, Bulli High, Corpus Christi Catholic High School, Corrimal High, Dapto High, Holy Spirit College, Smiths Hill High, St Josephs Catholic High, St Mary's Star of the Sea College, The Illawarra Grammar, Wollongong High, Woonona High Wollongong West Public, Edmund Rice College, Elonera Montessori, Figtree Heights, St Johns Catholic Dapto, Woonona East, Kanahooka High, Lake Illawarra High, Shellharbour Anglican College, Warilla High, Warrawong High, Illawarra Christian School Tongarra, Holy Cross Catholic, Mount Kembla Public.

Sydney Region: The Jannali High, Jannali Public, Oyster Bay Public, St Mary's Cathedral College, Aquinas College Menai, St Patricks College Sutherland, Inaburra and Sans Souci Public.

Wollondilly and Macarthur regions: Currans Hill Public, Mount Annan Public, St Helens Park Public, Wollondilly Anglican College, Broughton Anglican College,  Camden High, Macarthur Anglican, Macquarie Fields High, Mount Annan High, Buxton Public, Picton Public and St Clare’s.

Southern Highlands and western regions: Gib Gate, Hill Top Public, Bowral High, Goulburn High, Bletchington Public, Narromine High, Wollondilly Public, Narromine Public and Southern Highlands Christian.

Shoalhaven and South Coast: Illaroo Road Public, Bomaderry High, Carroll College Broulee, Nowra High, Shoalhaven High, and St John The Evangelist High.