Science Circus takes science to remote homes
Students from The Australian National University (ANU) have taken to the School of the Air to help promote science to primary school students in remote and isolated areas.
The event at the Hay School of the Air was part of the Shell Questacon Science Circus tour of regional Australia, featuring students completing a Masters of Science Communication Studies program at ANU.
Engaging a group of students by satellite and video, and making music to help them understand the science behind vibrations, was a new challenge for Lee Constable and Jirana Boontanjai, who are part of the 15 member science circus.
"It was really fun and different because we were performing to a camera," Jirana said.
"Unlike a live school show, you can't always see the students' immediate reaction to know if you need to go over something more than once."
In the studio Jirana, Lee and Hay School of the Air teacher Kate Murphy made musical instruments using everyday items from around the home.
"Our demonstration revolved around explaining the science behind vibrations, how they occur and how you can make loud and soft sounds and replicate it at home," Jirana said.
"We were teaching them how to test and try things out. Question, guess, test."
At the end of the session a band was created and everyone played one of the instruments they had made.
"Some of the students were three hours' drive from Hay so knowing we were able to help them do science at home was great," Jirana said.
"The students had a ball and we had fun watching them."
Ms Murphy said the students were all the more excited because having two scientists visit and give them practical experience is something that doesn't normally happen.
"I think it is really important for the Science Circus to come out here so that our students are getting all the same opportunities as other students who may be in Canberra or Sydney," she said.
"All of the students had an opportunity to speak and have their video shown. They were really excited and keen to show what they had done so far and the scientist were able help make it better."
Hay School of the Air Assistant Principal Samantha Davies said the Science Circus visit gave the students an experience they wouldn't normally have and which enriched their learning experience in science.
"Having real interactions with scientists and getting to be hands on really invigorates the students to be excited by science and know it is not scary but really fun," Mrs Davies said.
The Science Circus, celebrating its 30th year in 2015, is a collaboration between ANU and Questacon.
Since 1985, the Science Circus has covered hundreds of thousands of kilometres, reaching more than 2.2 million people with multiple visits to more than 500 towns and communities, including 90 remote Indigenous communities.
![](https://science.anu.edu.au/sites/prod.science.sca-lws06.anu.edu.au/files/AH1P7525.jpg)