LOCAL female scientists and high school students recently came together over morning tea to talk about careers in science as part of National Science Week’s Science Café for Girls.

With the aim of encouraging more women to take up science as a career, the morning tea provided a forum in which female high school students could actively engage and discuss science with the scientists.

Chief Scientist Professor Lyn Beazley with students at Science Cafe for Girls

The students listened to speakers including Chief Scientist of WA, Professor Lyn Beazley, and 2008 university Science Student of the Year and PhD student in Astronomy and Astrophysics, Ms Jacinta Delhaize. 

Both speakers described what inspired them to become scientists and shared their own career advice.

“Follow your passion as there’s nothing more important than that,” said Ms Delhaize.

“You should choose to study something because you really want to study it and not because you have the marks or not because other people said you should.

“My true passions were in astronomy and learning about fascinating things in the universe such as supernovae and black holes. 

“I also liked the idea of becoming an astronaut because to me that was the ultimate frontier of what man was capable of.”

“The Science Cafe for Girls provided students with a unique opportunity to speak one-on-one with a range of scientists and receive practical knowledge about science as a career pathway” said Professor Lyn Beazley AO, Chief Scientist of Western Australia.

“We hope this event has inspired students to continue to study science in high school and has showcased the many opportunities that a career in science can offer.

“This intimate setting provided a great opportunity for the girls to talk openly to the experienced scientists and ask pressing questions that they might not have been confident enough to ask in front of a large audience,” said WA National Science Week Coordinator, Kelly Dawson.

The students from various WA high schools were then given the opportunity to ask questions and speak one-on-one with scientists from CSIRO, Curtin University of Technology, Engineers Australia, Kings Park & Botanic Gardens, Murdoch University, Perth Zoo, Scitech, The University of WA and WA Museum.

Science Café for Girls was a collaborative initiative between Scitech, the University of WA and the National Science Week Coordinating Committee of WA.

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