National Youth Science Forum
Encyclopedia
The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a prestigious Australia
n program dedicated to exposing year eleven students who are heading into year twelve and are thinking about a career in science
, engineering
and related disciplines to major scientific institutions and researchers, so that they may make more informed choices for their future endeavours. They are also given training in time management, interview skills and public speaking. In previous years it has been known as the National Science Summer School (NSSS).
The Forum is fully residential and takes place during January in Canberra
and Perth
. All activities are fully supervised by student staff and resident Rotary
counsellors. The program is extremely intensive with little time for outside activities except for meeting those people already in the program.
The most important aspect coming from the NYSF is a network of friends, colleagues and support groups throughout Australia
which will be of value to participants for the whole of their lives.
The NYSF continues after January, first in the form of university seminars and industry site visits in March and April and afterwards as a long term personal network of people with common aims. You can tell if someone has been to the NYSF or NSSS by one subtle aspect of their formal wear. All will possess what is known as a “plum pudding” badge. The badge consists of the NYSF logo and is either red, green or blue, depending on the year attended.
and outside organisations including Rotary
, The Australian National University (ANU), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO) and the Canberra College of Advanced Education (CCAE) (now the University of Canberra
). The concept was developed through Mr Neville Whiffen, then Chairman of the Canberra Development Board, with the support of members of Rotary
in District 968, Sydney, and was organised by the staff of the CCAE.
The first NSSS was held in January 1984 with 198 students selected from across Australia
. Mainstays of the program were Mr Bob Mitchell
(subsequently Assistant Vice Chancellor of the University of Canberra
), Mr Ian Frencham (formerly CCAE, now retired), Dr Rodney Jory
(University of Canberra
, the founding Director of the NYSF), Mr and Mrs Ken Shields (Rotary Club of St. Ives, Sydney), Mr and Mrs Ted Armstrong (Rotary, Canberra) and six Rotarian couples, “house parents”, one couple from each State in Australia.
After this first success, the NSSS was incorporated on 5 June 1984, a Council
set up and a Director appointed.
Over the next few years, many changes were made to improve the program. The 1985 NSSS introduced specialised activity groups and for the first time, the Director was assisted by seven students, all of whom had attended in the previous year, who were invited to return as staff members. For January 1987 the NSSS was split into two sessions of two weeks, each of 138 students, 10 student staff, two Rotarian couples, and the Director.
In 1990 CRA Limited advised that it would support the NSSS financially, providing $120,000, and the NSSS became “The CRA National Science Summer School”. The numbers increased to 144 per session. The scope of each of the subject groupings was widened to provide for groups only in physics
/engineering
, chemistry
, biology
and geology
.
The 1991 NSSS saw the introduction of graduate seminars where students were able to question former students of the NSSS, who have now graduated, on their career choices, while the 1992 NSSS saw all student staff brought to Canberra
during the Easter
break of 1991 and given additional training. Subsequently a larger responsibility was placed on the shoulders of these people in the following January, further emphasising the student nature of the NSSS organisation. Job Interviews for all students were introduced in 1993, and formal University Seminars (reunions) were held in all mainland State capitals in the following March.
In January 1995 the NSSS changed its name to “NYSF," a name more accurately reflecting the meaning of the program, and in September of that same year, Mrs Sandra Meek joined the staff of the NSSS Inc.
taking over the responsibility of maintaining the student database from Mrs Ada Meek who now was able to concentrate more on program matters.
January 1997 was the last CRA NYSF as CRA Limited and RTZ Plc were later in the year merged to form Rio Tinto
and this was to be the future prefix. However, early in 1998, almost concurrently with the appointment of John Sandeman as Chairman of Council, Rio Tinto announced that January 1999 was to be its last year of full sponsorship (at $200,000) and that the sponsorship would be halved for January 2000 and drop to $25,000 thereafter. Rio Tinto very generously made $25,000 available to assist with a sponsorship search and provided two weekends of professional seminars in which Council members and past students were given advice into how to find sponsors. Council set an initial target of $400,000 for January 2001 and saw this as made up of 8 University sponsors and 8 industry sponsors each at $25,000 pa. The concept of university sponsors was only possible after the emphasis that had been placed on universities at both Orientation and University Seminars in the past few years.
The NYSF in January 2000 was, for the first time the “National Youth Science Forum” with no sponsor name. Partner universities and industry groups took part in both sessions and changed the emphasis from mining industry base of past years to a university/industry base.
In November 2000, Mrs Ada Meek retired from the office after being with the NYSF for 17 years. The Council expressed its gratitude to Ada for the influence she had had on the organisation over those years. With a full time replacement for Ada and the Director now full time, the NSSS Inc.
employed, from December 2000, 4 full time staff and a part time accountant.
Applications for the January 2001 NYSF remained the same as in previous years but surprisingly the numbers of boys and girls at session A was essentially the same. In session B, however, there were 84 girls to 60 boys, the reason for the big difference being a mystery. Six South Africans joined the six New Zealanders as students included in the subject groups. Two Canadians from the Canada Wide Science Fair were present during Session A.
In 2005, after years of dedication to the program, the Director, Prof. Rod Jory
retired and was replaced by the current Director, Geoff Burchfield. Geoff was previously the head of CSIRO
’s Media Unit in Canberra
.
The 2010 NYSF was an expansion of previous years, with a third session being held in Perth
, overseen by the new Associate Director, Tom Grace.
, and are interested in proceeding to tertiary studies in Australia
to do a science
, engineering
or technology
course. Applications close 31 May each year for the following January forum. To become a participant of the NYSF, Rotary International select a number of pupils in which they will sponsor to go to the Forum, which includes an interview, impromptu speech, group and social activities,and depending on schools and rotary clubs, examinations.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n program dedicated to exposing year eleven students who are heading into year twelve and are thinking about a career in science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and related disciplines to major scientific institutions and researchers, so that they may make more informed choices for their future endeavours. They are also given training in time management, interview skills and public speaking. In previous years it has been known as the National Science Summer School (NSSS).
The Forum is fully residential and takes place during January in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
. All activities are fully supervised by student staff and resident Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
counsellors. The program is extremely intensive with little time for outside activities except for meeting those people already in the program.
The most important aspect coming from the NYSF is a network of friends, colleagues and support groups throughout Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
which will be of value to participants for the whole of their lives.
The NYSF continues after January, first in the form of university seminars and industry site visits in March and April and afterwards as a long term personal network of people with common aims. You can tell if someone has been to the NYSF or NSSS by one subtle aspect of their formal wear. All will possess what is known as a “plum pudding” badge. The badge consists of the NYSF logo and is either red, green or blue, depending on the year attended.
History
The NSSS was set up in 1983 by the Canberra Development Board with assistance from many CanberraCanberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and outside organisations including Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
, The Australian National University (ANU), the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
(CSIRO) and the Canberra College of Advanced Education (CCAE) (now the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
). The concept was developed through Mr Neville Whiffen, then Chairman of the Canberra Development Board, with the support of members of Rotary
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
in District 968, Sydney, and was organised by the staff of the CCAE.
The first NSSS was held in January 1984 with 198 students selected from across Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Mainstays of the program were Mr Bob Mitchell
Bob Mitchell
Richard Charles Mitchell, , known as Bob Mitchell, was a Labour Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom. He represented Southampton Test for Labour from 1966 to 1970, and Southampton Itchen for Labour and then the Social Democratic Party from 1981 to 1983.Mitchell was born in Southampton on...
(subsequently Assistant Vice Chancellor of the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
), Mr Ian Frencham (formerly CCAE, now retired), Dr Rodney Jory
Rodney Jory
Professor Rodney Leonard Jory AM, , is an Australian physicist noted for establishing and running the National Youth Science Forum and for his contributions to Australian teams which have competed at the International Physics Olympiad...
(University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
, the founding Director of the NYSF), Mr and Mrs Ken Shields (Rotary Club of St. Ives, Sydney), Mr and Mrs Ted Armstrong (Rotary, Canberra) and six Rotarian couples, “house parents”, one couple from each State in Australia.
After this first success, the NSSS was incorporated on 5 June 1984, a Council
National Science Summer School Inc.
The National Science Summer School Inc. is the council that reviews and appoints staff that run the National Youth Science Forum . It is a non-profit organisation charged with overseeing the operation of the National Youth Science Forum in Australia...
set up and a Director appointed.
Over the next few years, many changes were made to improve the program. The 1985 NSSS introduced specialised activity groups and for the first time, the Director was assisted by seven students, all of whom had attended in the previous year, who were invited to return as staff members. For January 1987 the NSSS was split into two sessions of two weeks, each of 138 students, 10 student staff, two Rotarian couples, and the Director.
In 1990 CRA Limited advised that it would support the NSSS financially, providing $120,000, and the NSSS became “The CRA National Science Summer School”. The numbers increased to 144 per session. The scope of each of the subject groupings was widened to provide for groups only in physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
/engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
, chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
, biology
Biology
Biology is a natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. Biology is a vast subject containing many subdivisions, topics, and disciplines...
and geology
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
.
The 1991 NSSS saw the introduction of graduate seminars where students were able to question former students of the NSSS, who have now graduated, on their career choices, while the 1992 NSSS saw all student staff brought to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
during the Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
break of 1991 and given additional training. Subsequently a larger responsibility was placed on the shoulders of these people in the following January, further emphasising the student nature of the NSSS organisation. Job Interviews for all students were introduced in 1993, and formal University Seminars (reunions) were held in all mainland State capitals in the following March.
In January 1995 the NSSS changed its name to “NYSF," a name more accurately reflecting the meaning of the program, and in September of that same year, Mrs Sandra Meek joined the staff of the NSSS Inc.
National Science Summer School Inc.
The National Science Summer School Inc. is the council that reviews and appoints staff that run the National Youth Science Forum . It is a non-profit organisation charged with overseeing the operation of the National Youth Science Forum in Australia...
taking over the responsibility of maintaining the student database from Mrs Ada Meek who now was able to concentrate more on program matters.
January 1997 was the last CRA NYSF as CRA Limited and RTZ Plc were later in the year merged to form Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto Group
The Rio Tinto Group is a diversified, British-Australian, multinational mining and resources group with headquarters in London and Melbourne. The company was founded in 1873, when a multinational consortium of investors purchased a mine complex on the Rio Tinto river, in Huelva, Spain from the...
and this was to be the future prefix. However, early in 1998, almost concurrently with the appointment of John Sandeman as Chairman of Council, Rio Tinto announced that January 1999 was to be its last year of full sponsorship (at $200,000) and that the sponsorship would be halved for January 2000 and drop to $25,000 thereafter. Rio Tinto very generously made $25,000 available to assist with a sponsorship search and provided two weekends of professional seminars in which Council members and past students were given advice into how to find sponsors. Council set an initial target of $400,000 for January 2001 and saw this as made up of 8 University sponsors and 8 industry sponsors each at $25,000 pa. The concept of university sponsors was only possible after the emphasis that had been placed on universities at both Orientation and University Seminars in the past few years.
The NYSF in January 2000 was, for the first time the “National Youth Science Forum” with no sponsor name. Partner universities and industry groups took part in both sessions and changed the emphasis from mining industry base of past years to a university/industry base.
In November 2000, Mrs Ada Meek retired from the office after being with the NYSF for 17 years. The Council expressed its gratitude to Ada for the influence she had had on the organisation over those years. With a full time replacement for Ada and the Director now full time, the NSSS Inc.
National Science Summer School Inc.
The National Science Summer School Inc. is the council that reviews and appoints staff that run the National Youth Science Forum . It is a non-profit organisation charged with overseeing the operation of the National Youth Science Forum in Australia...
employed, from December 2000, 4 full time staff and a part time accountant.
Applications for the January 2001 NYSF remained the same as in previous years but surprisingly the numbers of boys and girls at session A was essentially the same. In session B, however, there were 84 girls to 60 boys, the reason for the big difference being a mystery. Six South Africans joined the six New Zealanders as students included in the subject groups. Two Canadians from the Canada Wide Science Fair were present during Session A.
In 2005, after years of dedication to the program, the Director, Prof. Rod Jory
Rodney Jory
Professor Rodney Leonard Jory AM, , is an Australian physicist noted for establishing and running the National Youth Science Forum and for his contributions to Australian teams which have competed at the International Physics Olympiad...
retired and was replaced by the current Director, Geoff Burchfield. Geoff was previously the head of CSIRO
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is the national government body for scientific research in Australia...
’s Media Unit in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
The 2010 NYSF was an expansion of previous years, with a third session being held in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, overseen by the new Associate Director, Tom Grace.
Application process
Applications are open to all Year 11 students who are permanent residents of AustraliaAustralian permanent resident
Australian permanent residents are residents of Australia who hold permanent residency visas but are not citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia....
, and are interested in proceeding to tertiary studies in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to do a science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
or technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
course. Applications close 31 May each year for the following January forum. To become a participant of the NYSF, Rotary International select a number of pupils in which they will sponsor to go to the Forum, which includes an interview, impromptu speech, group and social activities,and depending on schools and rotary clubs, examinations.
See also
- London International Youth Science ForumLondon International Youth Science ForumThe London International Youth Science Forum is a science enrichment programme for students from all over the globe. The Science Forum each year brings together some 250 students of the sciences, from almost 60 countries in the 5 continents....
- Stockholm International Youth Science SeminarStockholm International Youth Science SeminarStockholm International Youth Science Seminar is an annual science event organised in connection with the Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm...
- Canada-Wide Science FairCanada-Wide Science FairThe Canada-Wide Science Fair is an annual science fair in Canada coordinated by . Started in 1962, it is the highest level of competition in Canada, and approximately 400 projects and 500 students are judged at the fair...