User:Thecurran/CSIRO Lab

The CSIRO Lab is one of nine CSIROSECs (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Science Education Centres) and the only one in Western Australia. As a CSIRO Science Education Centre, it is funded in part by the national Australian research body, CSIRO, and it frequently works with both the Department of Education and Training and the Department of Commerce of the Government of Western Australia. It also also receives funding from Perth's ASTC and ASPAC member, Scitech, with which it shares it premises, and its sponsorship partner the Anglo-Australian BHP Billiton, the largest mining company in the world.

Mission
The aim of the CSIRO Lab, like that of each CSIROSEC is to:
 * alert school students, their families and teachers of science to the contribution of CSIRO and scientific research to our community
 * encourage students to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology
 * engage, enthuse and educate students, teachers and the wider community about science and its applications.

Projects
As a way of engaging the teachers of WA, the Lab liaises with WACOT. It involves those in the science industry through the Science Network of Western Australia. To promote science for families outside of a school setting, the Lab runs programs for the Double Helix Science Club, CSIRO's national science club. In order to broach the distances to regional WA, it has also set up a Lab-on-Legs program.