| 35th Professor Harry Messel International Science School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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We are pleased to present the 35th Professor Harry Messel International Science School: ISS2009 Genes to Galaxies 12-25 July 2009 organised by the Science Foundation for Physics within the School of Physics at the University of Sydney. Up to 140 of the brightest and most highly motivated Year 11 & 12 students from around Australia and nine other countries will stay on campus and experience two weeks of lectures, workshops and special activities. This is a scholarship program where all in-country student costs are covered by the Science Foundation for Physics. With an enviable history of great scientific leaders attending each ISS to address our scholars, we are very excited with the line-up for ISS2009 Genes to Galaxies. The opening lecture will be delivered by the Honourable Justice Robert French (ISS1964), Chief Justice of Australia. Justice French will speak about his experience from studying science and law to the career that took him to the top law job in the country. Dr Jill Tarter is the Director of the SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) Institute and will address the topics of ‘Who speaks for Earth’ and also how understanding ‘extremophiles’ on Earth helps prepare us for finding life on other worlds. Also from the USA is Mr Wayne Lee from NASA who will speak of his experience as Mars Mission Controller for the Rover Lander projects as well as NASA plans for sending people back to the moon. From Australia we will hear from Professor Malcolm Walter, Director of the Australian Centre for Astrobiology who will speak about life on early Earth and where we are up to with our search for life on Mars. Dr Naomi McClure-Griffiths from CSIRO Telescope National Facility will speak on the nature of our Milky Way galaxy. From the genes side of our theme we will welcome Professor Jennie Brand-Miller from the University of Sydney, who will speak on the evolution of our diets from Paleolithic times to the present, while Dr Alaina Ammit, also from the University of Sydney, will speak on the genetics involved in health. From our own School of Physics we will hear from Dr Helen Johnston, a Galactic researcher and Professor Bryan Gaensler who speaks enthusiastically about the Square Kilometre Array, a radio telescope for the 21st century which will answer fundamental questions about the origin and evolution of the Universe. As always we will also be treated to two very special talks by the University of Sydney’s Julius Sumner Miller Fellow and media personality, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki with his ‘Great Moments in Science’. The ISS is not just a talk-fest for these scholars. There will be tours, workshops and science activities organised by the Faculty of Science, University Museums and associated institutions both in and around the University of Sydney. Social events include the famous Harbour Cruise, Observatory tour, Zoo visit, trip to the Blue Mountains, and much more. The scholars themselves will contribute to their own evening's 'talent quest' and will also attend the more formal Gala Reception. For ISS2009, students from Years 11 and 12 will be considered for scholarships. It is generally expected that applicants will be 15 or older in July 2009, but 14-year-olds may be offered scholarships under exceptional circumstances. The following selection criteria may be used as a guide and may vary depending on state examination requirements:
Information and Application Kits for Australian students wishing to apply for ISS2009 will be available from this site from mid-February 2009. Students in other countries are chosen to attend the ISS by selection processes in those countries.
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