When Jessica Zantis told her teacher in year 8 that she wanted to be a marine biologist, she could not have imagined how soon she would get her chance.
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Since joining the school's ACE science mentoring program, Jessica has travelled to the ANU coastal campus at Jervis Bay with ANU Associate Professor Pat Backwell to do hands-on scientific research.
''I know I definitely wouldn't have been as interested in science as I am now if it wasn't for the mentoring program,'' Jessica said.
The ACE program was the brainchild of award-winning Melrose High School teacher Geoff McNamara, who thought there were too few opportunities for science-minded students.
''The thing that motivated so much work [going] into this program is that there was nothing for kids like these, who were capable of so much and yet were being shortchanged,'' he said.
More than 35 students have taken the program in its first three years, some of whom are now studying medicine and science at university.
Highly respected scientists from the ANU and the University of Canberra have helped students do serious scientific research.
Melrose High principal George Palavestra said the universities were increasingly keen to participate.
''We've got highly qualified scientists who are actually asking us to be part of the program. They're seeing the quality of the work at a university level,'' he said.
The research is of such high quality that one year 10 Melrose student enrolled in the program could soon have his work published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Year 9 student Charlotte Anderson, who used the school's seismometer to detect 32 earthquakes in the Canberra region, said it had been an incredible experience.
''You don't normally get to meet scientists,'' she said. ''It was interesting to see what it was really like to be a scientist. [Now] I'm really considering studying science.''
Mr McNamara said this was a pioneer program and it needed more government support. ''We have underestimated the capability of our top-end students in the public education sector,'' he said. ''We have brilliant students who are very keen on doing science.''
For now, Mr McNamara said he was enthusiastic about continuing to use his program to inspire more students to take up science as a career.
''Personally, I love teaching and I love science. So, combine those two things and I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be,'' he said.
