Out West

I arrived home last night after spending five days out west. It was both inspiring and exhausting. A few times a year I visit a state school in a small town called Cunnamulla with some other researchers to take science to the kids. Our goals are to: 1) get the kids to come to school, 2) get the kids to finish school, 3) get the kids to consider university as an option, and, 4) get them to consider science as a degree.

Cunnamulla State School is considered by Education Queensland as a disadvantaged school. There's a large percentage of indigenous students (86%) and attendance and compulsory test scores are lower than average. These kids are smart though, really smart. Sometimes I think they teach me more than I teach them. I only wish I could show you photos of the kids.

A fresh water turtle the kids found trapped between rocks at the Weir. We released him back into the Warrego.

The local flock of geese at the Weir.

Back home again

I got back from Fraser Island last weekend but the work that naturally piles up while you're out of town kept me busy all week. This is the first chance I've had to post...the mid Friday procrastination has kicked in! Time for some tea and toast.

Fraser was beautiful as usual. Great weather (mostly), great students (mostly) and beautiful midnight and dawn swims (the only time I could sneak away). Rejuvenating. I always come back from these trips feeling like science is the right path for me. Only trouble is when I spend the next three weeks stuck at a desk...then the dreams of the country return. 

One of my favourite quotes comes from Jonathan Safran Foer. "Sometimes I can hear my bones straining under the weight of all the lives I'm not living”. How are you meant to pick just one life when there are so many amazing options out there? How do you stay satisfied with what you choose? How do you not get overwhelmed by all the things you want to do? I'm ok with minimising my want for 'stuff' but I struggle with the 'wanting to do too much  stuff' bit. Where is the balance?