Mr ALISTER HENSKENS (Ku-ring-gai) (16:07:38): While many year 12 students—although not all—no doubt devoted a substantial portion of their recent school holidays preparing for their upcoming trial exams, Michael Currington of South Turramurra travelled to England for a different kind of academic pursuit, the London International Youth Science Forum. The forum is a two-week residential event held at Imperial College, London, with lectures and demonstrations from leading scientists and visits to industrial sites, research centres, scientific institutions and organisations, including world-class laboratories.

This was the trip of a lifetime for Michael, who is currently studying physics, chemistry and biology at St Pius X College at Chatswood and had never visited the United Kingdom. He plans to undertake a double degree in science and engineering at a university in Sydney next year. The London International Youth Science Forum annually attracts 500 of the world's leading young scientists aged between 16 and 21 years from more than 75 countries. There was time for Michael to be a tourist as well, with trips to Stonehenge, the Buckingham Palace state rooms and an unforgettable ride on the London Eye. For Michael, it meant missing the first week of his Higher School Certificate trial examinations but, not surprisingly, he was entirely unconcerned about that.