Camp to increase student interest in science

Fourteen local year 11 students will call USQ home for the next five days when they take part in the Primary Industries Centre for Science Education (PICSE) camp starting today (Monday December 3 2007).

The camp, which is being run for the first time at the University, will give the students a look at the study opportunities available to them at USQ and also local industry.

'PICSE is all about giving year 11 students a science experience in the hope that they will do further science study and get involved in the industry and research,' science education officer and USQ associate lecturer Lisa Reardon said.

'Over the five days they will stay at one of the residential colleges and will get the chance to collaborate with industry and will be taken through the science labs and shown some science activities here at the University.'

Sponsored by a number of government departments and industry members, the camp is also a fantastic opportunity for the students to network.

'There are a range of partners, including the CSIRO, DPI&F, Department of Natural Resources and Water, Pacific Seeds, Monsanto, the Centre for Systems Biology, the Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments, Education Queensland and the University of Tasmania (UTAS),' Ms Reardon said.

'In January next year each of the students will be placed with one of these departments or companies to do five days of work experience, so hopefully that can inspire them consider a career in science.'

Although this is the first time that the camp will be run at USQ, it has been held successfully at other universities around Australia.

'It has been running at UTAS for eight years and also in New South Wales, the University of the Sunshine Coast, South Australia and Western Australia.

'This is a pilot program for us this year and while we are not sure if it will be back next year we are looking forward to hosting the kids and we have an exciting program planned.'

Students will also travel to the Queensland College of Wine Tourism for a day of wine making and visit Pacific Seeds and the DPI&F at Inglewood as part of the program.

All 14 students will be on-campus today (Monday December 3 2007) when they will tour some of the science labs at the University.

Media are welcome to attend.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628