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Young enthusiastic PhD students are spreading the word about science careers throughout the State.

But what makes UWA 's Travelling Scientist program unique is that these bright 20-something adults talk about their own personal journeys, not just about science and their research.

Jan Dook, Associate Professor in Science Communication, points to feedback from a teacher at a north-west school visited by Travelling Scientist Ryan Kempster. "Ryan had talked to the high school students about himself, how he had some learning difficulties, how he used to fail exams, how he finally made it through high school and university and was now doing his PhD on an aspect of sharks and their development of sensors.

"I was told that two girls immediately changed their courses after Ryan's visit, to work towards marine science studies. They said that if Ryan could do it, they could do it.

"And that's what makes this program so powerful," Professor Dook said.

The Travelling Scientist program was established four years ago through UWA 's SPICE program and the Science Futures Foundation. SPICE is a secondary science teachers' enrichment program, a partnership between UWA and the State Department of Education. Its curriculum consultants, Bob Fitzpatrick, Jenny Gull and Pauline Chapman, run in-school and regional professional learning workshops aimed at enhancing school teachers' skills and their understanding of advancements in science and technology.

Professor Dook said the group decided to send PhD students with the consultants when they travelled around the State, so school students would have some exposure to inspiring young scientists while their teachers were enjoying professional development.

"We trialled it in 2009 and 2010 and it has been a huge success," she said. "I identify PhD students who I think would do a good job, including checking them out through the Three Minute Thesis competition." Professor Dook is one of the local judges.

"The high school students get to interact with positive role models, connect with current scientific research and engage with scientists as real people working on real problems and issues.

"And our Travelling Scientists themselves absolutely love it. They say is helps them to maintain enthusiasm for their research and they love seeing the students open up to the possibility of studying science and working in science."

The travelling team this year is Ryan Kempster from the Oceans Institute ( who was the UWA finalist in the Three Minute Thesis competition last year ); Karina Price and Ellen Fortini, who are both doing medical research through WAIMR ; Anna Bradley from Forensic Science; and Tristan Clemons, studying for his Scientists hit the road PhD in nanotechnology while playing hockey for Australia and hoping for a place on the Olympic team.

They have made six trips to remote and regional secondary schools so far this year. Ellen's recent trip to the Pilbara was co-funded by Aspire, the UWA program which engages students in schools not usually represented in undergraduate intakes. Meanwhile Anna was in the Kimberley, where she talked with 225 students in one day in Broome.

Ellen used the program's new biotechnology kit (funded by the Federal Government) to help the students with hands-on activities and experiments. Her research is in medicine and pharmacology.

"I have always been fascinated by how unique every person is, not just in appearance but also in our personalities and the way our bodies work," Ellen said. "My PhD research involves investigating the way these differences come about in light of the fact that, at the most biological level, that of our DNA , humans are 99.9 per cent identical to each other.

"I am looking at a compartment within cells called Paraspeckles, which are thought to regulate the expression of different bits of DNA at different times. Loss of this regulation can result in disease, making it vital that we learn more about how this regulation is achieved."

Ellen is making another trip, armed with the biotechnology kit, later this month.

Published in UWA News , 11June 2012