Iss20 17: Fu Tu R E Po W Er

sydney.edu.au/science/iss ISS2017: FUTURE POWER Report on the 39th Professor Harry Messel International Science School “The two weeks in the ISS was the most meaningful, fulﬁlling, exciting time in my life. It was an experience we can not gain anywhere else.” ISS2017 Scholar 2 View from the accommodation at Kincoppal School Contents Thanks To Our Supporters 5 The Scholars 6 Staff and House Parents 7 The Scientific Program 8 Social Events 10 Accommodation 11 The ISS Book & Lecture Videos 12 Educational Outcomes 13 In Conclusion 15 Appendix A: The ISS2017 Scholars 16 Appendix B: The Lecturers 18 3 The 39th Professor Harry Messel international science school, ISS2017: Future Power, ran from 2 to 15 July 2017, with a focus on the challenges, opportunities, research and technology of the world’s energy future. The theme incorporated science across a broad spectrum of disciplines, from fusion power and high-efficiency solar, to smart grids, energy modelling and biofuels, to medical physics, astronomy and scientific ethics. Over 130 senior secondary school science students attended ISS2017, representing every state and territory in Australia and seven overseas countries. They were treated to a unique lecture series by leading researchers, participated in hands-on activities in disciplines across science and engineering, and enjoyed a host of social events. The students were accommodated at Kincoppal and Kambala schools, neighbouring boarding schools on the shore of stunning Sydney Harbour, for the duration of the two-week program, which provided a nurturing environment for developing new friendships and bridging the many different cultures and backgrounds The feedback we received from the ISS scholars shows that, for many of them, their time at the ISS is transformational. Their messages of thanks attest to the truth in the traditional words of welcome to the International Science School: “The ISS will be the best two weeks of your lives.” 4 Thanks To Our Supporters The Professor Harry Messel International Science School could not run without the generous backing of our many supporters, including all those who have given to the Messel Endowment, the Physics Foundation’s campaign to secure the long-term financial future of the ISS. Each ISS costs approximately $450,000 and we profoundly appreciate the support of all who contribute to ensure we can maintain the high quality of the experience provided to the students at each ISS. Ongoing ISS funding is provided by the Messel Endowment, the New South Wales Government through the Department of Education and Communities, and the Australian Government through the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. The Physics Foundation warmly thanks all supporters of ISS2017, including − Department of Education and Communities, NSW Government − Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Government − Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney − And the many, many donors to the Messel Endowment Australian students were selected in their states and territories with the support of the Science Teacher Associations in every state and territory, and in NSW with the assistance of the Department of Education and Communities. The following institutions assisted in the selection of the overseas students and supported their international airfares to Sydney: − Affiliated High School of Peking University, China − Raman Research Institute, India − Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan − The Royal Society of New Zealand − Ministry of Education, Thailand − The Ogden Trust and the University of York, United Kingdom − The American Australian Association 5 The Scholars Chosen by our selection panels across Australia, students attended the ISS from every state and territory of Australia: Australian Capital Territory (2), New South Wales (50), Northern Territory (3), Queensland (11), South Australia (4), Tasmania (3), Victoria (10) and Western Australia (6). International scholars came from China (9), India (5), Japan (9), New Zealand (6), Thailand (7), the United Kingdom (5) and the United States of America (5). Appendix A provides a complete list of all 135 ISS2017 scholars. In their evaluations of the program our students consistently identify the diverse mix of scholars from different backgrounds and cultures as one of the great strengths of the program. One key concern for the ISS since its inception has been the need to ensure the scholars have suitable proficiency in english; overall the international scholars participated enthusiastically and were well represented in the question time following each talk. Several of the accompanying adult chaperones noted that their students’ confidence in english developed during the ISS. As in previous years the ISS book of lecturer interviews was made available as an e-book and PDF file in advance to all scholars, providing an opportunity for international scholars to preview the lecture topics. Indigenous Scholars Program Indigenous Australians are greatly under- represented in Australian scientific, technological and engineering- related fields. In 2005 the Physics Foundation and the Federal Government created the International Science School Indigenous Scholars Program to encourage and support talented indigenous students with an interest in science. The 2017 International Science School Indigenous Scholars. 6 For ISS2017, the foundation reserved five scholarships specifically for applications from indigenous students. Six applications were received from students identifying themselves for the indigenous scholars Program — two from NSW, two from Queensland, one from the Northern Territory and one from Tasmania. All were judged to be of very high quality, and one of the students was chosen for a first-round ISS scholarship by the state selection panels. The remaining five students were offered places through the Indigenous Scholars program. Staff and House Parents The various members of the ISS staff team are vital to the smooth running of the program. At each ISS we invite previous scholars to return back as volunteer ‘staffies’, and several staff from previous years are also welcomed back as ‘senior staffies’. This year, a total of fourteen staffies were engaged to assist with the program, retaining the increased number from ISS2015 to allow for the extra duties involved in living off-campus. Two staffies were assigned each of six groups of scholars for the duration of the ISS, which gives the opportunity for staff and students to bond and form strong group dynamics over the two weeks. Once again we welcomed back one of the New Zealand scholars as a staffie — marking the sixth ISS in a row where an international alumnus has returned as a staff member. Also back for their seventh ISS were our two house parents, Karen Palmer and John Bright, who, along with the overseas chaperones, were in loco parentis for the scholars for the entire two weeks. We ensured all overseas chaperones felt part of the staff team by inviting them to participate in all activities — and we organised a couple of lunch functions just for them as thanks for their help. The fabulous staff of ISS2017 Back row: Chris Stewart (Director), Bethany Snowden, Nicole Green, San van der Weerden, Meika Liveris, Tim Johns Second row: Chelsea Ho, Olivia Kong, Brendan Harlech Jones, John Bright (House Parent), Natasha Bond, Jonathan Simpson; Front Row: Elizabeth Li, Tatsuya Shiihara, Karen Palmer (House Parent), Emma Clignett, Guoxiang Li 7 The Scientific Program The ISS is an intense fortnight of lectures, talks, tours of the university’s research facilities and other parts of the university, hands on experiments and social events. The 39th Professor Harry Messel International Science School was formally launched by Mr Mark Scott AO, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, at the official Opening Ceremony on Monday 3 July in the University’s new Prof. Harry Messel Lecture Theatre. Following the opening, the first lecture was delivered by ANU’s Prof. Kylie Catchpole, leading researcher on high-efficiency solar cells. The remainder of the lectures were also held in Messel Lecture Theatre. Eleven scientists, selected for their research expertise, scientific reputation and communication prowess, were invited to give one or two lectures to the scholars. For the first time in the history of the ISS, leading female scientists comprised the majority of the lecture program. Each sixty-minute lecture was followed by twenty minutes of perceptive and challenging questions from the scholars. The lecture series comprised: −Prof. Steve Cowley (Oxford, UK), Fusion Energy and ITER −Prof. Kylie Catchpole (ANU), The Future of Solar Energy −Associate Prof. Tara Murphy (USYD), Exploring the Transient Universe −Prof. Andrew Stuchbery (ANU), Nuclear Power: Past, Present & Future −Dr Jenny Gerbi (ARPA-E, USA), Thirty Million Dollars to Change The World −Associate Prof. Bernadette McCabe (USQ), Bioenergy −Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (U.Sydney), Great Moments in Science −Dr Nicole van der Laak (USYD & Gelion), Battery Basics & Making Them Better −Prof. Annette Haworth (U.Sydney), Medical Physics: From Curie & Schrödinger to Curing Cancer −Dr. Jenny Hayward (CSIRO), Modelling The Energy Future −Prof. Tony Vassallo (USYD), Smart Grids Short bios of the lecturers can be found in Appendix B. Top to bottom: Kylie Catchpole explains her research into high-efficiency solar cells; The state-of-the-art lecture theatre in the Sydney Nanoscience Hub; Steve Cowley describing magnetic fields

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