The Australian National University (ANU) recently welcomed hundreds of young Australians for a once-in-a-lifetime science and technology opportunity.
The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) Year 12 program ran from 6-23 January 2025, with participants living on campus at ANU and The University of Queensland. The program engages students with a passion for science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM), providing opportunities beyond the classroom to explore these fields and potential career pathways.
The 2025 cohort reflected the diversity of Australia’s youth, with 67% young women and 3% who identify as Indigenous. STEM enthusiasts travelled from across Australia to participate – including Alice Springs, remote Queensland, northern Tasmania, and rural Western Australia – with 44% coming from remote and regional areas.
Over nine days, the group engaged with leading Australian researchers and innovators across diverse fields, including AI, cybersecurity, environmental science, health and medicine, and engineering.
How do you get involved in the Aussie-made moon rover (‘Roo-ver’) project? What career can you combine robotics and medicine? What does decarbonation mean, and how can I help? These and many more questions were answered at the NYSF!
This year, ANU was proud to contribute by delivering two exciting workshops: ‘Discover renewable energy’, led by the ANU Solar Racing club, and ‘The world of computing’, led by the ANU Computer Science Students Association (CSSA). We also delivered a sustainability-focused campus tour and participated in partner presentations, a careers day exhibition, speed networking, and an alumni evening.
ANU College of Systems and Society Dean, Professor Stephen Eggins, looked forward to welcoming this year’s NYSF cohort to our campus.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce the diversity of study and career opportunities, and expose the next generation of Scientists, Technologists, Engineers and Mathematicians to the ANU,” said Professor Eggins.