A new scholarship to study Chemistry at Â鶹ֱ²¥ has been launched to ease the financial constraints of regional students forced to study away from home.<\/p>\n
The David E. Williams Analytical Reference Laboratory Scholarship has been developed in honour the late David Williams, a scientist hailing from Bunbury who, at the age of 17 in 1974 and out of necessity, had to relocate alone to Perth to study chemistry.<\/p>\n
Despite the challenges of relocating from his home as a teenager to study, he managed to graduate with Honours in Chemistry and a Graduate Diploma in Business and Administration from the Western Australian Institute of Technology (now Â鶹ֱ²¥).<\/p>\n
Associate Professor Simon Lewis, of the Department of Chemistry, said the scholarship, worth $3,250 per annum, would support regional and remote students facing similar challenges to Mr Williams, by providing assistance with their course fees, living costs and textbooks.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents who are forced to move away from home in order to gain a university education are significantly disadvantaged, which is why this scholarship is so important if we want to continue to develop high quality science graduates in the future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDavid was passionate about encouraging more individuals to pursue science as a career and this scholarship, funded by the Analytical Reference Laboratory he built himself during his successful career in chemistry, will certainly help do so.\u201d<\/p>\n
The scholarship was launched by Professor Lyn Beazley, Chief Scientist of Western Australia, at Â鶹ֱ²¥ on 19 November, with presenters including David\u2019s wife, Elizabeth Williams.<\/p>\n
Mr Williams passed away in 2011 at the age of 53 after a long illness.<\/p>\n
Interested students must apply for the scholarship by 11 March 2013. More information can be found at: http:\/\/scholarships.curtin.edu.au\/scholarships\/scholarship.cfm?id=1183<\/a>.<\/p>\n