Students grill visiting science celebrity

Science was the topic of discussion at Tranby College last Tuesday as students had the opportunity to ask the BBC's Dr Chris Smith questions on anything from genetic mutations to his thoughts on the origins of the universe.

Murdoch University was responsible for organising the visit for Year 11 and 12 students studying science at Tranby College and Living Waters Lutheran College.

The initiative was part of Murdoch's Aspirations and Pathways for University project, which aims to build enthusiasm for tertiary studies.

Dr Chris Smith is best known as creator and editor of the BBC'S internationally broadcast interactive science radio show The Naked Scientists.

He works as a consultant virologist at Cambridge University and has been visiting Australia performing science shows and speaking to students since 2013.

Dr Smith said he hoped to give people motivation to study the sciences and his radio show was designed to break down barriers and simplify the subject.

"People do not realise how beneficial a science qualification can be - it can lead to a great deal of opportunity, for example, I never thought my study would lead to travel and meeting people the way it did, but here I am," he said.

Dr Smith held an interactive science show earlier in the day at Murdoch University's Rockingham Campus.

MAP 4 U project leader Antoinette Geagea said they attended schools in the Rockingham and Kwinana area and hoped to encourage more students to pursue science at a tertiary level.