Wonders of science wow community

Karratha’s rich array of scientific talent was on display at several major local events held for National Science Week.

Karratha Senior High School held an inaugural community science fair on Thursday, which attracted hundreds of people to hear innovative ideas ranging from primary school level to those of the major Pilbara resource companies.

Karratha SHS students presented science projects they had been working on in class, from displays about how electricity is conducted to an “elephant’s toothpaste” demonstration, and children from most of the local primary schools also attend-ed.

A wide range of industry and Government organisations including Scitech, Rio Tinto, Woodside, Yara Pilbara, Horizon Power and the City of Karratha, also set up stalls and spoke to community members about their latest projects.

The evening finished with an update on the artificial reef project being planned for Dampier by WA’s peak recreational fishing body Recfishwest.

The fair was organised by the school’s science department, and partnered with the Karratha Science Engagement Network and Scitech.

Karratha SHS science teacher Fiona May said she was pleased with the “incredible” turnout and hoped the interactive fair would become an annual event in the future.

“Everybody should be interested in science, and if we can even get a few people excited or interested about science, then we are doing our job,” she said.

KSEN co-ordinator Jacqui Harkness said the event showed the fun side of science to get children excited about its possibilities.

“It’s really important to encourage the younger generation to get involved in science, to prove it’s not just lab coats and boring experiments,” she said.

“It’s about increasing people’s awareness that everything relates back to it.”

St Paul’s Primary School also held a school science fair last Tuesday in which students put their individual science projects on display for the community.

The year groups worked to a theme and had their projects assessed by local judges.