November 7, 2014

Next generation of scientists inspired at annual fair

More than 850 primary and high school students from the Illawarra, Sydney, the Southern Highlands and South Coast, descended on UOW on Wednesday (5 November) to show off their experiments at the UOW Illawarra Coal Science Fair.

Jarni Goode and Oliva Ladmore from Figtree Heights Primary School. 

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 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.

Kira Jenkins and Holly Shallcross-Jones from Mount Annan Primary School. 

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.

Winners were announced at the University Hall. They included Keelan Ashburner, from Lake Illawarra High, who won the Chemistry category for a project titled ‘Is chlorine resistant fabric really chlorine resistant?’ and Felicity Carolan, who won in Physics for exploring projectile motion.

A full list of winners is available from smah.uow.edu.au/sciencefair.