This twelve-day residential program was incredibly unique and encompassed not only aspects of science, but also a number of factors associated with life during and after school, critical thinking and the vast amount of career options available in the 21st Century.

My experience of NYSF was widened exponentially due to the many students, staff members and speakers.

Equality amongst students was achieved through diversity; an even split between males and females and also equal number of rural and urban students.

This ensured that people from all across Australia could participate and hear others’ opinions; their opinions on secondary and tertiary study, current political topics and a number of philosophical subjects associated with both science and morality.

We spent most of our time in interest groups.

I was part of the Wu physics interest group, named after the nuclear physicist Chieng-Shang Wu.

Our group became incredibly tightly-bonded over the program.

We all took note and related to others’ opinions and this helped our friendships become more sturdy and cohesive.

We had so much fun together, socialising and laughing, but withheld the ability to analyse and think more deeply about some of the topics we were presented with.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first few lectures we attended.

Dr Tanya Monroe spoke about photonics including the phenomenon of cloaking.

This discovery enables one to create a metamaterial with a negative refractive index so the light bends around the object, making the object appear invisible.

The critical thinking workshop allowed people to speak their opinions as we were given several scenarios and had to determine the most correct answer.

Debates flared up and the arguing continued even as we left the lecture theatre.

Dr David Caldicott spoke about activism, advocacy and academia.

I really loved this lecture.

He put a number of happenings into perspective and didn’t shy away from the fact that being in our generation and getting a career in science will be a difficult task.

He encouraged us to stand up for science and ended with some helpful life tips.

For me there were a few key highlights at the National Youth Science Forum.

One of which was the CERN video conference where we talked to a German physicist named Rolf Landwell who had worked at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for 35 years.

This skype interaction was extremely interesting.

The questions students asked were comprehensive, insightful and thought-provoking.

The sheer size of the LHC is difficult to fathom; 27km circumference, 35000t of metal and 9600 dipole magnets.

The work occurring there, however, is even more mind-blowing as they look at the smallest aspects such as pentaquarks and hadrons to the billions of kilometres of dark matter in our universe.

The video conference was amazing.

I also thoroughly enjoyed visiting the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex.

We learnt about the vast distances between the antennas onsite and spacecraft.

We also conversed about the cost, future and achievements of the grand travel into space.

The place was filled with such rich science and I was so absorbed with the information the entire time.

During our time in Canberra, we visited many, many places.

Some of the sightseeing we participated in saw us going to the Australian War Memorial, old and new Parliament House, Telstra Tower, the Australian Portrait Gallery and Questacon.

On one of the last nights we travelled to the Australian National Museum for a dinner with fellow NYSFers, alumni, partners, Rotarians and scientists.

I must admit that, coming from a small town in the Central West, this was the most elaborate outing I had ever attended.

The setting was absolutely breath-taking.

I was extremely privileged to introduce the key note speaker, Professor Emma Johnston, and was completely and utterly enraptured during her speech.

The program most definitely wouldn’t be the same without the incredible people of which I was surrounded.

My interest group was amazing.

I spent most nights and institution visits with my floor group and these people were also astounding; all interested in different topics of science.

Throughout the camp, I came to know so many new and fascinating people and it was honestly such an outstanding privilege to do so.

On the final night of the National Youth Science Forum, we were treated to a concert hosted by fellow NYSF students.

The sheer talent among these young scientists is awe-inducing.

We had the chance to listen to a variety of singers as well as those who played instruments such as piano, saxophone, guitar and flute.

I was captivated by so many performances and felt so honoured to witness such stunning rarity and rawness during the night.

I cannot thank Rotary, Parkes High School and my beautiful family enough for the constant guidance and support through the application, preparation and attendance process.

The sponsoring from a number of organisations is integral to keep this program going and I am grateful that others recognise its importance.

NYSF has truly been life-changing. It has opened my eyes, challenged my views, allowed me to have intelligent conversations with like-minded people and understand the importance of science in today’s society.

I know that everybody felt similarly to the way I do now so the impact this program has on us is immense.

The National Youth Science Forum was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I feel so incredibly privileged to have undertaken such an experience.

From this point forward I know I will be a strong advocate for the NYSF and will encourage many people I know and am still yet to meet to attend, to step outside their comfort zone, to expand their minds.

This program truly empowers tomorrow’s scientists.

I have exited with new perspectives, more questions than answers and friendships that will last a lifetime. The 2017 National Youth Science Forum was extraordinary.