National Youth Science Forum National Youth Science ForumA step-by-step “how-to” of the application process can be viewed here.
Applications to Rotary clubs, for the 2011 Forum, close on Sunday 30th May 2010.
Not surprisingly, selection for the NYSF is very competitive. In any one year as many as 2,000 students may compete for 432 places.
Selection is coordinated by Rotary International with places being allocated by selection committees around the country. There are more than 23 of these committees, corresponding to Australia’s 23 Rotary Districts. The committees are made up of local Rotarians, members of the scientific community including teachers and past NYSF students. The precise method of selection varies from committee to committee but typically it includes personal interviews and other assessments. It’s worth noting that school marks alone will not guarantee success.
To reach one of these “district selections” an applicant must be nominated by a Rotary Club in the district. Clubs may nominate as many students as they wish but as a rule they pick only the two or three best applicants. This means that some Clubs will want to hold student interviews of their own.
How do you get an application to a Rotary Club? First fill out the online application form on this website, then print the completed form and take it to a local Rotary Club along with the other supporting documentation that’s requested. Full details are on the form.
Who should apply? If you are presently in Year 11, a permanent resident of Australia, and are considering tertiary studies in science, engineering or related areas at an Australian university then you are eligible to apply.
There are no limits on the numbers that can apply from any one school. If more than one person from your school is applying then it is a good idea to apply to different Rotary Clubs so you are not competing against one another in the first round of selection.
The program is designed specifically for those bright young Australians who will be tomorrow’s leaders in the sciences. We can really open your eyes to some extraordinary possibilities and give you a head start. If this sounds like you then why not apply?