Participants of all ages learned about boomerang making, bush foods and medicines, astronomy, robotics and jewellery. Lord Mayor Clover Moore said: “This popular community event allows Sydneysiders to see how science plays a part in every aspect of their lives.”
The National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP) places Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in leadership positions, while promoting science and further education options. NISEP co-director, Associate Professor Joanne Jamie, said: “Young Indigenous leaders host hands-on interactive science shows with lots of slime, ‘elephants’ toothpaste’, dry ice and much more. There’s also physics, maths and biology demonstrations, knitting of neural networks, stick insects and bird-watching.”
High school student and NISEP leader, Lyle, said: “Without this program I wouldn’t be where I am now. You look up to elders and other role models, you want to learn and experience the kinship and knowledge – you look up to where you want to be.” Fellow student, Sharna, said: “The program has brought me heaps of confidence. I love to teach little kids and to share what I know.” Both Lyle and Sharna led workshops throughout the day.
Caterina Baitieri, a teacher at Hurstville Public School, said: “I thought the science fair was fun and fantastic. It shows that we are naturally curious about the world. The science fair was a collaborative effort – presentations were made by Indigenous Australians and university students. I enjoyed all the activities and picked up some interesting scientific information and learning activities to use in my teaching.
“For example, making slime, testing my sense of smell, creating a floating structure out of everyday materials, creating my very own brown-coloured fingerprints by using iodine, making my own juggling ball and playing ‘juggling numbers’ – great for teaching number patterns. I learned about the many uses of bush plants, such as making bracelets out of plant fibre, gumnuts and beeswax, and hunting tools.
“There was so much to see, learn and do!”
