Our best and brightest

Molly Orr said she can't wait to learn more about science careers.

By JOLENE OGLE

A LUCKY Noosaville student has been selected to attend a week-long science forum in Canberra in January.
Molly Orr, 15, is one of five students in her Mathew Flinders’ science class to be chosen to attend the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) and said she hopes to learn more about careers in science.
“The reason I want to go is to open my eyes to science careers I don’t even know exist, yet,” she said.
The forum will be held in Canberra and will give students the chance to meet with and talk to leaders from the scientific world, as well as visit university laboratories and industrial research facilities.
More than 1200 entries to attend the forum were received, with 500 students selected by local Rotary Clubs, who have also offered to partially fund the trip for students such as Molly.
Attending the forum is a dream come true for a girl who has loved science since Year 6.
“This will be a whole new experience for me and a chance to find out more about science,” she said.
Molly said she loved physics and a recent course at school focussing on thermal physics had captured her interest.
National Youth Science Forum director Damien Pearce said the forum provided a professional and supportive environment for students to learn more about their study and career options.
“There are so many study and career options out there now – the field of scientific endeavour has grown exponentially in the last 30 years,” he said.
“One of our key aims is to show students the nature of knowledge exchange, and where and how collaboration occurs both at uni and in the workplace.”