Rivers Collegiate Students first Canadians selected to International Science School in Australia

Two 17-year-old students from Rivers Collegiate (RCI) have been selected to attend the 35th Annual Professor Harry Messel International Science School (ISS) in Sydney, Australia. From July 12 to 25, 2009, Cassandra Pryzner and Josie Paddock will attend “Genes to Galaxies”; a 2-week program operated by the Science Foundation for Physics at the University of Sydney. Since 1974, the ISS has hosted seminars for exceptional grade 11 and 12 students from across the globe. Until this year, no Canadian students have ever been invited to attend.

There is an interesting personal connection as well. Born in tiny Levine Siding, MB, in 1922, Professor Messel completed his public school in Rivers before attending Queen’s University and serving in the Second World War. After moving to Australia in 1951, he was appointed as Head of the School of Physics at the University of Sydney in 1952, retiring in 1987. Still busy in his late 80s, Professor Messel was personally responsible for ensuring the first two Canadians to ever attend the ISS were from his home town. The opportunity for Ms. Paddock and Ms. Pryzner to attend developed after Professor Messel was contacted by Donna Morken of Rivers.

In conjunction with Rivers Collegiate, plans are underway for the two grade 12 students to attend ISS 2009. While the program in Australia is paid for, scholarship winners and chaperones are responsible for return transportation to Australia. A budget of $10,000 has been set to cover travel costs. Municipal, Provincial, and Federal levels of government have been contacted for their support. RCI is confident that the significant financial expense can be met through government support as well as contributions from the business community. Marlin Travel in Brandon has agreed to organize travel arrangements for the Rivers Collegiate students and chaperones.