Award-winning Queanbeyan science student meets Premier

Fresh from his success at an important international science fair, young scientist Andrew Stewart, a Year 12 student from the Karabar Distance Education Centre, had the opportunity to meet Premier Morris Iemma at the NSW Regional Cabinet meeting in Queanbeyan on 1 August 2006.

At the Regional Cabinet Civic Ceremony, the Premier congratulated Andrew on his recent participation in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair held in Indianapolis, USA in May, which was made possible by support through the OSMR Young Scientist Awards.

Andrew achieved third place in the Grand Awards for Environmental Sciences for his investigation into wetlands. He pursued research into ways of disposing of effluent through multi-tiered, or sequenced, wetlands and found that common wetland plants can only absorb a certain amount of the major elements of effluent, before reaching a limit.

Andrew passed a rigorous judging process, which included a Scientific Review Committee judging each project and 12-minute interviews for each finalist. He was among 1,500 students from more than 40 countries to participate in this prestigious science event.

The NSW Office for Science and Medical Research contributed $10,000 in sponsorship to help four students, including Andrew, and two University of New South Wales representatives, attend the fair, which is the world's largest pre-college science competition. The students were awarded their prize at the Young Scientist Awards ceremony during Science EXPOsed in October 2005.

The 2006 Young Scientist Awards will be announced at an award ceremony in October 2006.