Bunbury Catholic College to host 2024 Regional Bayliss Youth Lecture with focus on “seeing” chemistry

High school chemistry students and the general public are being invited to a free public lecture next week.

Bunbury Catholic College will host the 2024 Regional Bayliss Youth Lecture on Monday, February 19 - the first time it is being presented outside of Perth since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Academic challenge and enrichment studies co-ordinator Annabel Kanakis said she was very excited to have the lecture in Bunbury.

“It means our students have the advantage of not having to go too far for the experience and so more of them and their families will be motivated to attend,” she said.

“It also means our college can continue to be one of the centres for STEM events to provide opportunities for all students in the South West to be exposed to current science topics. This will hopefully encourage them to undertake further studies in science.”

This year’s lecture will be presented by Professor Mauro Mocerino from Curtin University’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences.

His lecture will highlight some of the tools used to help visualise what happens in chemistry at an atomic level, with a focus on Mr Mocerino’s work using virtual reality.

Ms Kanakis said it is vital to foster students’ love of STEM subjects and their importance to the contemporary world.

“Students should be encouraged by being exposed to ‘real science’ so that they can see the application of subject matter learned at school,” she said.

“Hopefully students become aware of the opportunities available to them through exposure to these kinds of events.”

The lecture will be held at the College Hall from 3.30pm to 4.30pm, with registrations essential.

To register, visit https://shorturl.at/gCENR