SCIENCE was on the agenda in Geraldton this week as a working group of educators and academics met to discuss how to promote all areas of science to Mid West communities and schools.

The National Science Week Geraldton Working Group met this week to discuss its program for National Science Week in August. Co-ordinated by ASKAP regional manager Priscilla Clayton, and chaired by Geraldton MLA Ian Blayney, the group discussed the possible activities for the week, which included guided tours of the bureau of meteorology, screening of short science films and stargazing. Also on the cards is a Youth Science Forum, which might include guest speakers WA Chief Scientist Lyn Beazley and Professor Steven Tingay from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy research.

Mrs Clayton said the aim of National Science Week was to demystify the subject for students and to teach them that it wasn't "scary". "We are basically hoping to promote science to school students and science in communities," she said. "We want kids to know that everything they do relates to science, and science is something we all use every day of our lives.”

"We want to encourage science as a career option to school students as well." There is sure to be a heavy focus on astronomy over the course of the week. Work is expected to start on the first stages of the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder project (ASKAP) in the Murchison later in the year and WA is one of only two possible sites shortlisted to host the prestigious $3 billion Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project.

Mrs Clayton said getting kids interested in radio astronomy was only one of many possible science careers that would be required on the telescope projects when they came to fruition. "They don't have to be radio astronomers – they could be engineers or computer specialists. There is a whole range of careers associated with the SKA," she said.

Mr Blayney said he had a great interest in all things scientific. "But it is very much an amateur's interest in science," he said.

-         Megan Bailey

Geraldton Guardian

27/05/2009