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Our very own Science Learning Area Coordinator, Jessica Neilsen, attended ISEF (International Science and Engineering Fair) in Los Angeles recently as an AUSSEF (Australian Science and Engineering Fair) committee selected chaperone.

• AUSSEF is a volunteer run committee committed to promoting student excellence in conducting quality scientific and innovative research projects.
• The AUSSEF Steering Committee is committed to actively collaborating with others to strengthen the capacity and opportunities for all students to excel in STEM, regardless of their location or socio-economic circumstances.

“I was invited to join AUSSEF in January 2023. During this time, I have actively worked towards supporting Australian students to produce quality work to represent at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) which is held in the US each year.

This year I was nominated by the AUSSEF committee to chaperone the 2024 Australian winners to represent Australia at ISEF. I travelled with the 11 students to Los Angeles where we spent 9 days preparing and presenting projects to judges and the public as well as listening to guest speakers such as CEO’s, Company founders, Nobel prize winners and even Jeanette Epps on the International Space station.

One of the teams representing at ISEF included an NT team. 51���� provided these students with the location for their data collection during the school holidays, which means all of their resulting data is directly related to the buildings at our school. It was this extra data which supported these students to be so successful, earning them 3rd place in their category.

Photos of our classrooms were on display in LA to the 1600 students competing from across the world along with the hundreds of judges, chaperones, and to the public who came to see them.

This year my focus is on supporting rural and remote teachers and students through NT and SA to increase their contacts and opportunities to support students to reach the AUSSEF quality, particularly our own 51���� College staff and students.

The most important advice I have for students interested in science is to be open to opportunity, follow your passion now, but be prepared to pivot when things change. Use your unfair advantage, what traits do you have that others don’t? Cultivate that. And remember that stumbling is not falling, stumbling makes you walk faster.”