Science Education News (SEN) Journal 2018 Science Education News Volume 67 Number 1 | Page 46

ARTICLES STEM-X Academy, 2018; An Exhilarating, Enlightening X-perience! (continued) an increasing set of sponsors. Over past years small groups of the most exceptional Young Scientists have attended the International Science and Engineering Festival (ISEF) in the USA, their projects and explanations competing against the best from many other countries – around 1800 in all. The past two years have been highly rewarding, and teachers may be interested in reading the reports in the appropriate editions of SEN. [Apply to [email protected]]. Nevertheless, the real importance of YS is to have students learning to think, explore, make – and to explain everything they did, and why they did it. The Senate Chamber - similar - though far less seats and red decor instead of green One other program that STANSW runs every year is called "Young Scientist". Several years ago Stuart Garth, Head of Science at Redeemer Baptist College, encouraged all the students to think of observations that interested them, and made them wonder why? or what? or how? He organised that all the students investigate such phenomena, and enter the YS competition. Soon a regular trickle of those students were winning prizes. Stuart was elected onto STANSW Council, and accepted the responsibility for organising the YS program until the end of 2016. It has expanded exponentially during that period and since; more schools, teachers and students (Yr 2 through to Yr 12) have involved themselves in the program. The investigations are supposed to be selected, planned and carried out by the students; no doubt in many cases, particularly for the young, assistance will be provided by parents, teachers and others, however, during the marking p