Thursday, 9 October 2008

New initiatives aimed at attracting young people to science and science teaching will be on top of the agenda for more than 90 science teachers from Western Australian high schools at a breakfast at The University of Western Australia on Monday 13 October 2008.

Speakers will include the Minister for Education, the Hon. Elizabeth Constable;  former WA Chief Scientist and UWA Neurologist, Professor Lyn Beazley;  Premier's Fellow in Astronomy, Professor Peter Quinn;  SPICE Program participant, Richard Meagher;  SPICE Program coordinator, Dr Michael Wheatley and SEEK peer tutor, Pragnya Jagadish.

The breakfast will be part of the SPICE and SEEK programs supporting the teaching of science in WA high schools.

SPICE is a secondary teachers' enrichment program to give teachers access to professional development, exciting new curriculum resources and opportunities for interaction with leading scientists, science educators and multimedia developers.

SEEK places second and third year science and engineering students in Year 6 to Year 12 classrooms once or twice per week as peer tutors.

Richard Meagher, a teacher at Mt Lawley Senior High School, said UWA's SPICE program had been beneficial to him and his students.

"It's quite a long time since I was at university and it's great to come back and see what's happening in current research," he said.  "We are always looking for ways to connect with the community and what UWA is doing with its SPICE Program is terrific."

The breakfast will be held in The University Club Banquet Hall, Hackett Drive Entrance 1, Car Park 3, Crawley (free before 9am) from 7.30am to 9am.

Media references

Dr Michael Wheatley (SPICE)  (+61 8)  6488 2659
Richard Meagher  (+61 4) 03 988 352
Jenni Wallis (Event coordinator)  (+61 8)  6488 3263  /  (+61 4) 38 750 223
Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716

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