Aidan and three other New Zealand students travelled to Queensland in late June joining a group of like-minded young scientists who took part in five non-stop days of learning and exploration. The topics covered were the Future of Experiences in Agriculture, Science and Technology (FEAST).
FEAST is a University of Queensland programme designed to inspire and inform high school students of the range of exciting and rewarding science careers.
Aidan said there was never a single moment in which they were not engaged in some form of science or university activity. He even got the chance to give an ultrasound to a pregnant goat!
“I found that I could always take away some vital information after each workshop,” says Aidan. “By receiving a taster into a plethora of sciences, my perception of science and my plans for the future were constantly challenged.”
The FEAST group were introduced to many sciences that are not taught in the classroom. Activities ranged from producing clay molds of kangaroo teeth to hearing from well-known paleontologist, Dr Steve Salisbury on his discovery of 55 dinosaur tracks in Western Australia.
“Entering the Grafton Campus, you may be fixed on one career path, but you leave with another five possible options you never knew existed,” says Aidan. “Whilst workshops on wildlife studies reaffirmed my passion for the environment, other seminars and activities made me want to investigate other avenues like sustainable agriculture and pathology.”
