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Budding scientists from all over the metropolitan area and some country regions including Bunbury, Boddington, Esperance, Geraldton, Katanning, Margaret River, Mt Barker and Wagin will converge on The University of Western Australia tomorrow for a three-day science fest.

Described by a participant in last year's event as "awesome", the Siemens Science Experience, in its 19th year, is held at tertiary campuses all over Australia, attracting thousands of aspiring scientists going into Year 10.

While "fun" is one of the aims, the experience also has a serious side: providing students with the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of science by performing exciting experiments and investigations, hearing from leaders in their fields, and learning about careers in science.

Director Dr Joanne Castelli of UWA's Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, said about 170 students had enrolled in the experience which enabled them to understand the role of science in helping to save lives, preserve the environment and improve the way we live.

"Astronomy and astrophysics are a feature of this year's program, since 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy," she said.

Jacinta Delhaize, the Science Student of the Year, will share one of her interests - the gas and dust in the Magellanic Clouds, which are the closest galaxies to our own galaxy, the Milky Way.  And Premier's Fellow Professor Peter Quinn will discuss the Square Kilometre Array, the world's largest ground-based telescope array, which may be built in the Murchison.

Students will also learn about a range of topics from how the Swan River works to diarrhoea and take part in activities such as isolating DNA from pea plants, analysing the soil on a crime suspect's shoes, joining a physics circus and making magic mud.

Media visitors are welcome at the Wilsmore Lecture Theatre, off Hackett Entrance 2, near cricket nets on James Oval, from 10am to 2.30pm, January 13-15.

Media references

Dr Joanne Castelli (+61 8)  6488 8744../  (+61 4) 07 777 784
Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 7975  /  (+61 4) 20 790 098