The PICSE team deliver several programs for students to get involved in across Australia.
Most of these opportunities are locally or state based, although some do provide the option for an interstate exchange to another PICSE Activity Centre. All these programs link students and schools with universities and industry. There is a strong focus on research and on an exploration of pathways available in a science based career.
Industry Placement Scholarships
Each PICSE activity centre holds an Industry placement Scholarship program for year 11 and 12 students during the summer holidays. The scholarship consists of a one week Residential Camp, one week of Industry Placement where students work as a scientist alongside researchers, all culminating with a scholarship cheque for $300!
The Residential Camp is help by the partner university for each activity centre. Students are engaged in activities at the university and have the opportunity to interact with lecturers and post graduate students during the camp. In addition students visit many research organisations during the week, hearing about current research being conducted and getting to tour the facilities available to researchers at the cutting edge of science.
The Industry Placement occurs in January and is organised at a time that is appropriate for both the student and the industry partner. For one week students experience working with a research scientist, aiding in the current research work of their mentor scientist. This is a great opportunity for students to gain a deeper knowledge of what is involved in working in a field that takes their interest, and to develop some new skills in the field or in the laboratory.
At the end of January, when all of the scholarship students have completed their industry placements a Reporting Back Session is held. This is an opportunity for students to give a short presentation about their experiences of the camp and placement in front of their friends and parents, industry partners and university representatives. It is a great event and a wonderful networking opportunity.
To find the activity centre nearest to you either use the map on the homepage or select Activity Centres on the About Us menu.
Science Investigation Awards
PICSE activity centres run a program of investigation awards with science students throughout the year that culminates in a presentation night in the later part of the year.
The Science Investigation Awards have been running for 6 years in Tasmania and have been run in a pilot phase in all of the other activity centres in 2009. So this year many centres are running the awards with a limited number of schools and year groups.
From 2010 onwards all activity centres are aiming to extend the number of students involved in the investigation awards, so if you are interested in entering in a program that gives you the opportunity to win up to $500 per team in prize money talk to your science teacher about getting involved in the awards at the nearest PICSE activity centre to your school! To find the activity centre closest to your school either click on the map on the homepage or select Activity Centres on the About Us menu.
Year 9/10 Science Camp
A camp opportunity exists for students in year 9 and 10 at the Flinders, Growsmart and UTAS PICSE activity centres. So if you live in Tasmania or South Australia click the link for your nearest activity centre using the map on the homepage and select Year 9/10 Camp from the Students menu to find out more.
