Speeches
Monday, 14 October 2024
Reception for National Youth Science Forum Year 12 Program
Rod and I warmly welcome you to Government House.
We are big supporters of STEM in our household; Rod studied physics at Oxford and taught high school physics and maths. He loves STEM and likes nothing more than meeting people who love STEM too.
To the students here today: congratulations!
Being selected for the National Youth Science Forum is a terrific achievement.
The forum is a lot of fun and will highlight the exciting study and career options open to you.
It will foster your passion for science, technology, engineering or maths.
It can help you follow in the footsteps of STEM legends like Doctor Andy Thomas – a South Australian aerospace engineer and former NASA astronaut - as well as Katherine Bennell-Pegg, Director of Space Technology at the Australian Space Agency here in Adelaide, as well as Australia’s first female astronaut.
Or, if you’d like to keep your feet on the ground, you may draw inspiration from South Australian Edward Robinson who, more or less straight out of school, designed a flat-pack educational satellite kit and is now selling it to schools and universities.
As these individuals know, great endeavours rely on great teams and great supporters – and the National Youth Science Forum is no different.
I am pleased to welcome some of those supporters here today and I thank you for your vital contributions.
In particular, I praise the work of Rotary and its members.
In our state and across Australia, you play a key part in the selection process for the Forum’s Year 12 Program.
I also commend the teachers for the support you provide to your students and the Youth Science Forum.
Last but certainly not least, I thank your supporters at home: your parents, carers and families.
Students,
In my role as Governor I see many exciting South Australian projects involving STEM graduates doing remarkable work.
It always strikes me that the important people in STEM are not simply those undertaking space travel or ground-breaking research … but actually all those whose work and study applies STEM at an innovative and practical level on a daily basis.
I’ve also observed that great achievements in STEM disciplines are seldom accomplished by one person alone.
It’s through collaboration and combined efforts that we achieve our greatest results.
I urge students here today to keep that in mind when you go to the forum in January.
Take the chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities that STEM offers … and to make connections with people from across Australia.
Those connections can last a lifetime and lead you to extraordinary projects that enrich the lives of people in South Australia and around the world.
The forum is a great opportunity to meet new people, to learn new things, to inspire and be inspired.
So, make new friends, make the most of this opportunity, and have fun. You’ve earned it. Congratulations.