Grant boosts Western Sydney Science Hub

Hawkesbury Institute Building L9

Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Headquarters

With $5,000 new funding, Penrith South Public School's National Science Week's celebrations will be bigger and better this year with the help of the Western Sydney Science Hub's new partner, Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at the University of Western Sydney. 

The Western Sydney Science Hub was established last year by Penrith South Public School in association with the Penrith Country Women's Association (CWA), National Parks and Wildlife and the local Apple store. 
These groups joined forces with community members and students to hold a dynamic science festival at the school during National Science Week at which students participated in all kinds of fun science activities.
The NSW Regional Science Grants Program is delivered by Inspiring Australia (NSW), the state partner responsible for delivering Australia's national strategy for science engagement. Inspiring Australia has established a growing network of Regional Science Hubs across rural and metropolitan regions in NSW that are committed to delivering high profile science events in the community.
"Science and technology are part components of education today," says Elizabeth Johnson, a science teacher at Penrith South Public School who has been coordinating National Science Week events at the school for several years. 
"By working alongside the University of Western Sydney, we are giving our students the opportunity to experience quality learning sessions led by experienced tutors and academics."
"We are also promoting the importance of science in our everyday lives to our wider school community and seeking to foster a love of science in all students," says Ms Johnson.
This August, students and their families will again join the CWA to celebrate National Science Week with a science fair and for the first time participate in activities at the University of Western Sydney Hawkesbury campus, including making movies about reptiles.
"The University's Hawkesbury campus is a natural place to show tomorrow's scientists the best of today's research initiatives, where our rich agricultural science heritage meets the latest in new-generation, large-scale research facilities," says Professor Ian Anderson, Director of the UWS Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment.
The NSW Regional Science Grants Program is delivered by Inspiring Australia (NSW), the state partner responsible for delivering Australia's national strategy for science engagement. 
The funding boost to the Western Sydney Science Hub is one of $70,000 worth of grants to thirteen community partnerships to deliver a wide array of science engagement programs that will inspire people everywhere with the wonders of science. 
Inspiring Australia has established a growing network of Regional Science Hubs across rural and metropolitan regions in NSW that are committed to delivering high profile science events in the community.
NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Mary O'Kane commends the dedication shown by NSW Regional Science Hub members whose passion for communicating complex science with imagination and creativity continues to engage new audiences with scientific concepts and ideas.
"From knitting neurons and star gazing to science carnivals and natural wilderness adventures, initiatives funded under the NSW Regional Science Grants Program will I'm sure spark new interest in science amongst people of all ages," says Professor O'Kane.

"I'm delighted that as a result of this grant funding, we now have 16 of these community-driven, strategic alliances throughout the state, each one committed to promoting the relevance of science to everyday life."

For more information about the NSW Regional Science Grants Program please contact the Manager, Inspiring Australia (NSW) Jackie Randles on 0481 006 158.

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