Kickstart Science
Kickstart workshops give HSC students a chance to do experiments and demonstrations of key ideas in the syllabus that are difficult to do in the classroom.
Workshops
These HSC syllabus-focussed workshops cover key topics and experiments that require equipment or expertise in areas that many schools may not be able to provide. Our expert science communicator teams will walk your students through the theory and then hands-on demonstrations to reinforce these key topics within the University’s laboratory facilities.
Dates: Kickstart period is February, June and July, and November, with limited dates available
Duration: All workshops run for 2.5 hours
Class size: Maximum class sizes of ~30 students to fit comfortably in laboratories.
Cost: $38.50/student (inc GST) per 2.5-hours
Need an online option?
If you are looking for a more flexible online option to cover the theory of the key topics from Biology, Chemistry or Physics Kickstart, you can book a Virtual Kickstart workshop instead. These 90-minute workshops are run live over Zoom and include videos of the demonstrations from the labs. They are available on selected dates in March, May, September and October. You can find out more about Virtual Kickstart here.
Subjects
Physics
Our physics workshops cover many points of the HSC syllabus overseen by your own dynamic tutor, all in a real physics lab in the historic Physics Building at the University of Sydney.
The flexibility of our “Combination of Modules” choice lets you mix-and-match up to 5 of our experiments to make your Kickstart workshop as engaging and relevant as possible.
- Download workshop information (PDF, 440KB)
Includes module info and learning outcomes - Download Kickstart Physics Risk Assessment(PDF, 293KB)
Chemistry
In our chemistry workshops students will undertake many hands-on experiments using analytical instruments and chemicals not readily available to high schools.
- Download chemistry workshop information (PDF, 41 KB)
Includes module info and learning outcomes - Download Inorganic Substance Analysis Risk Assessment (PDF, 246 KB)
- Download Spectroscopy Skills & Analysis Risk Assessment (PDF, 242 KB)
Biology
Enhance the HSC biology syllabus with a workshop that is totally hands-on and features equipment and models to aid the understanding of concepts in the fields of genetics, disease diagnosis, biotechnology and genetic engineering. Students will conduct laboratory experiments and learn skills in micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, plasmid design and protein purification amongst others. Module choices and times are default to below, unless expressly requested by the school and arranged through our Science Alliance team.
- Download workshop information (PDF, 243KB)
Includes module info and learning outcomes - Download biology risk assessment forms
Frequently asked questions
No, all printed workshop materials will be provided. Please have your students bring a pen and a calculator.
No bus parking is available on campus. See the Driving and Parking section of the University website for more information.
Most school groups come on the train - it's a 30 minute walk from Redfern Station, and 5-10 minutes walk from City Rd. Also many buses pass the University along Parramatta Rd or City Rd. From the Parramatta Rd bus stop it is a 5 minute walk. See the Public Transport section of the University website for more information.