Helping with the homework for scientific mums

THURSDAY 6 MARCH 2008

A group of Canberra mums are getting some entertaining help with the science homework thanks to a new program organised by The Australian National University.

The program – Science for Mums – is being run at Canberra’s Questacon. Under the program, a group of around 20 mothers of children in Years 7-9 are hearing about some fundamentals in science in a fun and relaxed environment so that they feel confident to help their children with homework.

The program is the brainchild of the University’s Director for the Centre for the Public Awareness of Science, Dr Susan Stocklmayer and is being run each Friday over six weeks.

Dr Stocklmayer said the idea of the program was to introduce the mums to the kind of science that their kids are learning at school, give them the confidence to explain it and do basic experiments at home.

“It’s a program that’s never been done before,” she said. “There have been family nights but this is pitched at discussing school science, so that they feel more confident. They can do all of the experiments at home with the kids – it’s not fancy stuff, but it is entertaining.

“On the first week the group modelled DNA with the aid of lollies and extracted DNA from strawberries. In future weeks they’ll be making soap and experimenting with physics forces.”

She added that for many of the mums the program was their first exposure to the world of formal science.

“Many of the participants have no experience at all and they were apprehensive. A few said that in the family dad was the ‘science person’. So we’re not assuming any prior knowledge, but they’re asking some excellent questions in the sessions,” said Dr Stocklmayer.

For more information contact:
Dr Susan Stocklmayer – (02) 6125 8157
Martyn Pearce, ANU Media Office – (02) 6125 5575 / 0416 249 245