For the past six months, Diana Marshall's life has been consumed by fingerprinting techniques. Powders. Colours. Surfaces.
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The year nine student hopes to one day work in forensic science so jumped at the chance to pair with University of Canberra forensic geneticist Dennis McNevin for Melrose High's ACE Science Mentors program.
Her science inquiry project followed her for most of the year, including on a European holiday. She edited part of her research report while on an old train travelling from Kazakhstan to Russia. But it was worth it, Diana said.
She on Friday presented a 6700-word paper examining how fingerprint dusting powders and colours interact with different surfaces to a rapt audience of students, teachers and scientists.
"It was very, very inspiring," Diana said.
"Now I want to be a forensic scientist - I wasn't sure at first but now I definitely know."
Melrose High teacher Geoff McNamara developed the Academic Curriculum Extension Science program about eight years ago.
The program sees students matched with experts in their field of interest and lead an inquiry project, whether forensic science, astronomy or paleontology. All participants are expected to produce a referenced, polished report. Most are an average of about 5000 words, though one of this year's participants produced a 13,000 paper.
More than 30 students participated this year, up from 24 last year and 16 the year before.
Mr McNamara's primary advice to students was to find their passion.
"I tell them you'll know what you're passionate about when you can't understand why everybody else doesn't love it too," he said.
A former ACE Science Mentors student, now completing her PhD, this year returned to Melrose as a mentor. Mr McNamara said both students and academics benefited from the program.
"I think the common theme [for mentors] is finding a kindred spirit, finding a young person who feels the same way about their field that they did when they were young and they still do," he said.
"We are always underestimating the extraordinary things these children can do - seriously underrating them."
