Bringing a “truckload” of lab equipment with them, eight PHD and honours students set themselves up early this week at Tamworth’s Peel High School.

Peel High School science teacher Renae Gavin said it was exciting for students to get their hands on physics and biology equipment local schools couldn’t afford to purchase.

“We took Year 12 science students to the university last year but having the Kickstart team come to us was a lot more convenient and cost effective,” Ms Gavin said.

“They used liquid nitrogen in one experiment; firstly it’s too expensive, and secondly, it’s just not available to schools.

“They also brought a super conductor and they are rare.

“The students usually have to watch a DVD or go online to see these sorts of things, but this was the real thing.”

Kickstart   co-ordinator Tom Gordon, from the University of Sydney, said he hoped by giving the students a chance to use the sophisticated equipment, they would get a “warm and fuzzy feeling” when contemplating a career in the sciences. 

“It helps science come alive and we also had a lot of fun,” Mr Gordon said. 

In the biology lab it was more about dissecting eyeballs and brains, checking out whale and seal skeletons and water dragon embryos.

During the two-day visit, more than 25 experiments were conducted in workshops with HSC students from Tamworth, Armidale, Narrabri, Manilla, Glen Innes and Gunnedah.

The local Tamworth community joined in on the action on Tuesday night with free science demonstrations, talks and exhibitions.