“Two local young people, Travis Barnes and Luke Webb, both 22, from Bendigo, have received $5,000 in The Foundation for Young Australians Spark Fund to develop a program to promote the benefits of pursuing a career in science to secondary school students.
The program, ‘Thrust’, highlights how science is important in everyday life, and will be conducted in 12 secondary schools in the Goldfields Region during 2007. Travis and Luke will also undertake research and produce a publicly available report that aims to impact the way science is taught around the country.”
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this grant is to contribute funding to enable Travis and Luke to develop their ‘Thrust’ Program – a hands-on promotion session which will promote the benefits of pursuing a career in science to students in 12 high schools in the Goldfields region, to take place from April 2007 – April 2008. Travis and Luke will also undertake research, and produce a publicly available report into the contributing factors to the poor uptake in Science related studies at a tertiary level. The report aims to impact change across the nation in the way science is approached and taught.
Both have had significant involvement and interest in the education system. Travis has been studying a Bachelor of Education at the University of Ballarat, while volunteering in both public high-and-primary schools, running values-based programs. Luke has recently completed a degree in Aerospace Engineering at RMIT University and is now undertaking a research PhD in Aerospace. He has been highly involved in promoting science and engineering in a number of ways including through the science Peer-Tutoring program at RMIT, and conducting hands-on rocket activities in schools.
It’s expected that 600 students will be involved in the program as Travis & Luke pass through the 12 schools. They also expect to interview a number of students, teachers and principals as part of the research, and also hope to talk with other important stakeholders, including Government and interested industry.
If you would like to discuss your thoughts about science education, please feel free to share them with either Luke or Travis. They are interested in, but not limited to, the following:
- Past or current promotion programs and efforts that work
- Observations as to the root of why students are not being engaged in science
- The impact a lack of science/engineering/technology students will have upon industry/future national capability
- How groups and promotion programs can help in a greater way
- Any relevant case studies/personal experiences
CONTACT
Luke Webb
luke.webb@student.rmit.edu.au
Foundation for Young Australians
(03) 9670 5436 or 1800 252 316
For more information, visit http://www.youngaustralians.org//our/Current/ya_our_spark_07.asp
