The NYSF gave me the confidence to put myself out there and try out for leadership positions at college as well as applying for trips to help out Indigenous communities in far north Queensland.
Max Rintoul, NYSF Alumni 2011
I first found out about the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) from a friend who had not only attended the January sessions but had later attended one of the international programs in South Africa. I have always loved to travel and so after hearing about his experiences I was determined to apply, particularly because of those international program opportunities. Little did I know that the January session would be one of the best experiences of my life.
Spending two action-packed weeks surrounded by like-minded students from all over Australia was phenomenal and not something that is offered anywhere else. To this day when traveling throughout Australia I will regularly stay with or at least meet up with friends I made on session.
After the January session I was lucky enough to be selected for an international program and as a “staffie” on two other sessions. Through these experiences I have had the opportunity to trek through the outback of South Australia, work in a German microbiology lab for five weeks and attend extremely useful leadership and public speaking training on the south coast of New South Wales.
I am also now studying a degree that I first discovered at the NYSF, the Bachelor of Philosophy program at the Australian National University. Known as the PhB, this program allows undergrad students to get involved in research from their first year. Until I found out about this degree I was considering studying in either Melbourne or Sydney or even abroad in the United States, however I was unable to find a program over there which offered the chance to gain hands on research experience so quickly.
My experiences at the NYSF have also helped me to get the most out of my time living on campus at the ANU. At the NYSF there are many opportunities made available to students, however it is still up to the students to take advantage of them and I have found that it is the same at university. The NYSF gave me the confidence to put myself out there and try out for leadership positions at college as well as applying for trips to help out Indigenous communities in far north Queensland.
The NYSF was without a doubt one of the best programs I have ever been involved with and I would recommend anyone with an interest in science to get involved.