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Chanelle Carter was a young researcher whose life was tragically cut short in 2010. Yet her talents and inspiration are set to help other young people in science, thanks to the memorial fund set up in her name.

The Chanelle Carter Memorial Fund, sponsored by Alcoa Australia, was recently established at The University of Western Australia.

An Alcoa scientist, triathlete, UWA chemistry graduate, mentor and Oxfam volunteer, Chanelle was a person of many talents.

Alcoa Australia established the fund to honour her energy and passion. Chanelle’s parents, in particular, are keen that the fund is used to support young women in science.

The Chanelle Carter Memorial Fund offers six year 10 girls from schools in south-west WA the opportunity to participate in a range of science-related activities at The University of Western Australia.

In 2011, the inaugural year of the fund, three year 10 girls from Newton Moore SHS (Sarah Gazendam, Bronte Squires and Meg Whatley) and three from Pinjarra SHS (Amelia Hoffman, Jessica Meredith and Bethany Staer), along with accompanying teachers, travelled to UWA as guests of the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences and the SPICE program. The students arrived on Sunday 14 August and took part in a range of activities over several days.

The students were able to explore the UWA campus on Open Day where they visited various displays and attended the chemistry magic show.

Because the visit fell during National Science Week, they were also able to participate in the Science Café where they heard from guest speakers including Professor Lyn Beazley, Chief Scientist of Western Australia and Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall.

Other activities included a morning tea to meet Chanelle’s parents, spending an afternoon with an undergraduate science student, academic sessions in forensic science, geology, astronomy and marine biology, a showcase at iVec, a Chem Centre Forensic evening at Scitech, a trip to the top of Winthrop Tower and a visit to the Alcoa refinery.