Pen pal scientists inspire young students

Description

It started during one of the Covid lockdowns in Victoria. Biochemist and molecular biologist Jennifer Payne from Monash University and teacher Chris Kaliviotis from Jells Park Primary School southeast of Melbourne hatched the plan to pair grade six pupils with scientists as pen pals. There are now 90 scientists and students writing to each other. As Gavin McGrath reports students are exposed to a world beyond the classroom, their science literacy improves, and students may be inspired to consider science when making subject and career choices.