Ten years after sitting in Clarence High School classrooms as students, Heath Dimsey and Jade Fletcher recently returned as Young Tassie Scientists.
The former Clarence High students are among this year's Young Tassie Scientists, a National Science Week initiative connecting school students with early-career researchers and STEM professionals from across Tasmania.
Returning to their former school, they will deliver interactive presentations and hands-on activities. Students will have the opportunity to meet scientists, learn about current research and hear first-hand how curiosity can become a career.
Today, Heath is an applied mathematician who uses mathematics and computer modelling to better understand patterns in the natural world. Jade is a PhD candidate studying lizard evolution whose research has contributed to the discovery of two new species of legless lizard.
Heath said returning to Clarence High School was a special experience.
"Coming back to the school where my interest in science first developed is incredibly rewarding. Clarence was such a foundational part of my journey, so it feels really special to be able to return and share my passion with students," Heath said.
"I want students to see that science presents itself in every part of life and that there are many different pathways into STEM.
"Hopefully, by sharing my own journey, I can inspire students to follow their curiosity, ask questions, and see STEM as something that's accessible, exciting and relevant to their own lives."
Students will hear about scientific research underway in Tasmania, explore different fields of STEM and ask questions about university, research and future careers.
Jade said meeting scientists in person could have a lasting impact on young people.
"When you're at school, it can be difficult to imagine where your interests might lead," Jade said.
"Being able to meet someone who has taken that next step can make those possibilities feel much more real and achievable.
"It's great to be able to come back nearly ten years later and share my work with current students.
"The programs I participated in during high school helped me develop my interest in science, and I hope this visit helps students see that their own interests and experiences could lead them in exciting and unexpected directions."
For more than two decades, Young Tassie Scientists has connected communities with Tasmania's emerging scientists and researchers, bringing science directly into schools and community settings across the state.
As part of National Science Week, this year's cohort will visit schools across Tasmania, helping thousands of students engage with science through presentations, demonstrations and conversations with people working at the forefront of research and innovation.