Budding scientists from seven St George and Sutherland Shire primary schools will be battling it out this Saturday to see who best knows their way around the periodic table of elements.
The competition will feature Year 5 and 6 students and is being held by ANSTO as part of Australia Day festivities in Cronulla.
It will feature an ANSTO computer that randomly selects five elements from the periodic table. The competition is to see who can match the element with its chemical symbol the fastest.
If he’s up for it, the competition winner might even challenge the Council’s stage MC, Beau Ryan from the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, to see who can pick an element the fastest.
“The Sutherland Shire is home to some of the brightest scientists minds in the country,” said Rod Dowler from ANSTO’s Discovery Centre.
“This competition is about helping to encourage home grown science and home grown scientists: training and inspiring the Shire’s next generation of great minds.
“Make no mistake, the competition will be tough. Some students have been coming to ANSTO to do practice runs, and one has already beaten the record previously held by an ANSTO scientist.
“I have little doubt we’ll be seeing that student working here one day.”
The competition will be held on the council stage in Cronulla from 2:45pm on Saturday 26 January. The winner will receive shopping vouchers for their school and one for themselves.
Participating students have been nominated by their School Principal as excellent students and potential future science leaders.
The participating schools are: Cronulla Public School, Sutherland North Public School, Lucas Heights Community School, Oyster Bay Primary School, Bangor Public School, Bevery Hills North Public School and Sans Souci Public School.
Published: 22/01/2013