Scitech’s 3000km regional schools tour brings the wonder of science to Wheatbelt students

Scitech has been on the road in the Wheatbelt this month, bringing hands-on science incursions to regional schools across the region.

The tour kicked off on February 9 at Yealering Primary School, and will come to its conclusion on Friday at Hyden Primary School.

By the time it is completed, the tour will have travelled around 3000km to deliver science shows and interactive workshops for primary school students and reached 17 schools in shires including Pingrup, Newdegate, Lake King, Brookton, Kondinin and Wickepin.

The tour covers some of WA’s smallest schools including Yealering, which is situated between Narrogin and Corrigin and boasts 10 students, and Babakin Primary School, which sits midway between Corrigin and Bruce Rock and has only five students enrolled.

Scitech conducts dozens of regional tours every year, with the aim to visit every regional and remote school in WA every three years.

Scitech’s Statewide manager Dr Shaun New said the regional tours were an important way to keep all WA kids connected and enthusiastic about science, regardless of how small their school was or how remote.

“Due to the the large distances between communities and small size of schools, Wheatbelt communities often miss out on special experiences like a visit from Scitech,” Dr New said.

“The reception we get from students and teachers at Wheatbelt schools is incredible; the schools are so welcoming, and the students are always enthusiastic and super-engaged.”

Dr New said the school incursions aimed to spark students’ curiosity early by allowing them to be curious and discover new things, and connect science to their everyday lives through activities and experiments.

He said the model Scitech used was based on understanding through doing, giving students the opportunity to have fun and get hands-on with science.

“Early positive engagement in science, technology engineering and mathematics is so important in encouraging young people to continue developing these skills during their time at school, throughout their lives, and into their career choices,” he said.

“Our aim is to be the spark that ignites curiosity and encourages students to continue their science journeys.”