National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)

Chair: Adam de Totth (Woden Daybreak)

• Promote NYSF throughout the District and receive applications from Clubs.
• Conduct briefing and debriefing sessions for Awardees.
• Interview applicants sponsored by Clubs and select Awardees.

Applicants should be about to enter the final year of Secondary education, have demonstrated an outstanding interest in Science and Technology and be considering some field of Science as their future career.

NYSF offers Year 11 students a unique opportunity to test drive careers in science, engineering and related disciplines.

For 12 days in January, students come to Canberra and live on campus as a university student. Some 450 like-minded NYSF participants will come from around Australia and overseas to meet a range of scientists and researchers, to visit them at work and do the kinds of things scientists do every day. The NYSF participants debate the hottest science and engineering topics and pick up valuable skills to give them the edge in Year 12 and beyond. It is not all work; they also enjoy the fellowship of their other NYSF participants through trivia quizzes, BBQs, discos and a range of sports.

NYSF works closely with Rotary Clubs around Australia to select participants to attend in January. Selection is competitive and not based solely on academic results as NYSF participants should have interests outside school.

Applicants must complete and submit an application online by 30 May 2011 and to proceed, each application must be sponsored by a Rotary Club. Clubs interview applicants, and forward sponsored applications to the NYSF Rotary District Chairman by 30 June. During July the District Committee assess all sponsored applicants and make the final selections for the following year.

Dates