ASSETS graduates and guests in the Science Exchange Boardroom

It’s been another very successful year for our ASSETS (Aboriginal Summer School for Excellence in Technology and Science) program and my first opportunity to see this wonderful experience up close and personal has been humbling.

I’m always inspired by what young people can achieve when given the opportunity to engage with science. Witnessing the graduation of this year’s ASSETS intake was particularly acute given that we had 27 Year 10 high school students from all over Australia, and all with a proud Indigenous heritage.

For two weeks in December they were put through their paces with a diversity of projects organised by the Australian Science and Mathematics School (ASMS), SA Water and the Gene Technology Access Centre. While the students came to grips with the workings of forensic science and gene technology, the main focus of their course was a series of investigative projects run by SA Water. Divided into teams of three or four, they chose a variety of studies in water quality and supply, devised methods to conduct these investigations then went through the whole process of actually doing some scientific research.

Presentations by the students on their aqueous science experiments formed the bulk of the graduation ceremony conducted in our auditorium in late December. I think the word I’m looking for is ‘gobsmacked’. The intelligence and tenacity with which these students had applied themselves to the tasks left me utterly gobsmacked. I reflected on what I was doing at their age and found myself embarrassed to admit that I would probably not have met the tasks that these guys had just performed so brilliantly. It was a humbling experience!

Added to this sense of awe was the pride with which each student proclaimed their Indigenous heritage. I was also somewhat surprised at just how complicated some of these personal stories were with several students claiming descent from several different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nations. This also reinforced another aspect of the ASSETS program where Peter Buckskin, Frank Lampard, Wiltja staff and the good people from the Living Kaurna Cultural Centre encourage discussions centred on cultural pride.

The graduation was also an occasion of celebration where we nominated and awarded our first Ambassador to the ASSETS program. Dannielle Ghezzi completed the ASSETS program in 2008 and is now completing a degree in medical science at UniSA. Dannielle personifies all that is good about the ASSETS program, giving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students a chance to engage with science and encouraging them to go on and study science beyond high school. To date some 60% of ASSETS graduates have done exactly that and are busily applied to university science courses across the country.

ASSETS really does make a difference and exactly where it counts; encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to engage with science and thereby take science back to their communities. It’s a terrific outcome and we are determined to make sure that this wonderful program continues into the future.

 By Dr Paul Willis @Fossilcrox 

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ASSETS day eight: A bright future in science for Indigenous students after cultural program by Emma Lawrance 

ASSETS day seven: Indigenous students now motivated to explore careers in science by Emma Lawrance

ASSETS day six: Indigenous students inspired by academic and cultural mentors by Emma Lawrance 

 ASSETS day three: Budding Indigenous scientists investigate water management by Emma Lawrance

ASSETS day two: Desalination explained to Indigenous students at SA Water by Emma Lawrance

Indigenous students’ water course, Adelaide Now 

ASSETS day one: Science camp to close the gap in Indigenous education by Emma Lawrance

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