The Youth ANZAAS Congresses are a major part of the third aim.

The Youth Congresses are held annually and rotate around the major cities of Australia and New Zealand. This year's Congress in Melbourne took place against a background in which the Victorian Division of ANZAAS is regrouping itself, increasing its membership, and becoming a force again in the general community as a platform for scientific debate.

Fifty school students (years 9 - 12) took part in this year's event, earlier in July and delegates came from every State and Territory in Australia. The students were accommodated at Ormond College on the University of Melbourne campus, and for three days visited laboratories and places of scientific interest in and around Melbourne.

Program Strategy

The program of visits was designed to satisfy four criteria:

• topical science;
• choice of topical science for which Victoria has world leading groups;
• some examples of applied science and technology transfer;
• new major initiatives (synchrotron and Bio 21) presented as the basis for future science visions (ie facilities which will be operational when these students enter graduate and postgraduate studies)

This was the first year for some time that all States and Territories had been represented by students at the Congress.

For those interested the next Youth ANZAAS 2004 will be held in Sydney.