Three Kiama High students – Alexa Farland, Nina Teague and Ella Johansson – have returned from the International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF) in London.

The ‘once in a lifetime’ opportunity saw the girls attend lecture demonstrations from leading scientists, keynote lectures from Nobel Prize winners, and scientific visits to world class laboratories and science universities, combined with interaction with students from around the world.

Arriving home from the two week Forum, all three say it exceeded their expectations.

“We got to experience some really amazing places and people,” Nina says.

“We got to see and learn about aspects of science that we and the wider public have never heard of, from unpublished studies and emerging research.”

Going into the Forum, Alexa wanted to be a psychiatrist while Nina and Ella were interested in engineering, but the experience has altered their plans.

“A stand-out lecture for me was Dr Michael Amoo’s neurosurgery lecture, specifically about neurotrauma, which was very exciting. I sound young and naïve saying this, but I now want to be a neurosurgeon,” Alexa says.

“I was already deadset on medicine, but it has showed me that nothing is going to distract me from my chosen path.”

For Nina and Ella, their stand-out was by Professor Emma Morris, who detailed gene editing and therapy and emerging technologies involving stem cells.

“I went in there thinking mechanical and software engineering sounded interesting as a career, but after Professor Morris’ lecture I now want to do medicine,” Ella says.

“Coming out of the lecture, I am now definitely leaning more towards biology, biotechnology or even medicine. It is a complete one-eighty but I suppose that is what the program is for – exposing you to new niches of science,” Nina says.

“I would love to study in the UK especially now having seen the insane level of study over there.”

With High School graduation just around the corner for the girls, Ella is looking into university abroad in medical science next year, while Alexa has been accepted into an early offer of advanced medical sciences at Western Sydney University, with plans to do a lateral transfer into medicine.

Nina hasn’t made any firm decisions of what next year will hold but says she has a clearer view of what she wants to pursue in biology or medicine.

“I think as three girls that live in Kiama, we have been shown the big wide world and that it is not impossible to go and achieve what we want. We are all really inspired,” Alexa says.

“You’ve got to make the most of whatever life throws at you – this was a different opportunity and was nerve-wracking at times, but I can’t even imagine my life if I didn’t do it.”

Alexa, Nina and Ella would like to thank the community for their support and donations that made the trip possible.