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Students enhance their research skills

22 October 2008

Matt Flynn from Whittlesea Secondary College, Brenton Lawrence from Galvin Park Secondary College, Claire Wheaton from Mildura Senior College, Harley Standley from Whittlesea Secondary College, Hannah Moule from Wanganui Park Secondary College and Emily Gulliver from Wanganui Park Secondary College.

More than 100 talented Year 11 students from 58 schools across Victoria have tested their chemistry skills as part of a two-day workshop held at Monash University's Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The hands-on workshop was held to give students an insight into the science behind the creation of every day products.

Students were introduced to university-level chemistry through a mix of lab sessions and tutorials covering topics such as skin structure and moisturisers.

Teams from each school were challenged to develop their own moisturiser, before presenting and discussing their creations with a panel of Monash scientists.

The faculty's student activities officer Jessica Dobbie said the workshop gave students the opportunity to experience university life, exposing them to opportunities in pharmaceutical sciences.

"On television, in magazines and on the radio we are constantly bombarded with products promising to make our skin look more beautiful," Ms Dobbie said.

"This workshop allows students to see and experience for themselves the processes pharmaceutical scientists go through to develop a cosmetic from an idea to a physical product on our supermarket or pharmacy shelf."

For more information on studying at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences visit the Faculty website.