National Schools Science and Engineering 26th Challenge

G’day everyone,

I’d like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are meeting today, the Ngunnawal people, and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.

I’d also like to acknowledge:

• University of Newcastle, Vice-Chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky.
• Council for the National Science and Engineering Challenge Chair, Emeritus Professor John O’Connor.
• NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan MP.
• And all the schools and rotary clubs and sponsors here today.

I want to welcome you all to Parliament House.  

You are here because you are the top performing students from across the country in this challenge.

Over 25,000 students participated this year, and you should be very proud for making it this far.

When I was in high school last century, I had this dream of becoming a doctor.

I loved science.

I even did work experience at the local hospital.

In Year 11, I enrolled in Physics, Chemistry and Biology – the prerequisites to get into medicine at uni.

On the very first day of Physics, we were sitting at the lab benches.

Our science teacher came in and said:

“Physics is the hardest subject in the HSC and most of you are going to fail.”

I thought straight away if I fail Physics I won’t get into medicine.

So, the next day I dropped out of Physics.  

And Chemistry.

And I enrolled in Ancient History and Modern History.

In that moment my life changed.

Instead of becoming a doctor, I ended up becoming a lawyer.

And then I disappointed my parents and became a politician.

You can choose a different path.

This challenge is hopefully igniting that spark and that love of learning and discovery that will help create the next generation of scientists, engineers, mathematicians and doctors.

Every road we build, every disease we cure, every game or every gadget that is created is made possible because of people in STEM.  

They literally change the world around us.

Whether you win today or not, I want you to remember something important.

Science isn't about getting it right all the time. Or getting it right the first time.

Science is about trial and error.

It's about testing an idea.

Discovering what doesn't work.

Learning from it.

And trying again.

One of the greatest medical breakthroughs in history happened because of exactly that.

About a hundred years ago, in 1928, Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin by accident.

It then took years of work by Australian Howard Florey and his team to turn that discovery into a medicine that could actually save lives.

Along the way there were failed experiments, dead ends and setbacks.

But they kept going.

And that has saved the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

It changed the world.

And I reckon there are people and ideas in this room that could help shape and change the world too.

And I know this program doesn’t just happen.

It’s only possible because of the University of Newcastle and the thousands of volunteers who help out each year.

You have been doing this for more than 25 years now.

And you have opened the doors to a future in STEM for young people who might not have thought it was for them.

Half of the students who participated this year were from rural or remote areas and half were young girls.  

I know you have changed the lives of thousands of young people who have done this program, and I want to thank you for what you do.

I want to end by saying congratulations again to all the students.

I want to encourage you to talk to and get to know the students from other schools.

Be creative and bold as you approach the activities today.

And don’t forget to have some fun as well.

I can’t wait to see what you do next.

Good luck.