Archived Media Release

27 January 2010

Speaker of Australian Parliament Meets Indonesian BRIDGE Students at Award-Winning ‘Strike A Chord-The Science of Music’ Exhibition

The Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, Mr Harry Jenkins, met students from Kebon Jeruk 11 Jakarta primary school while visiting Australia’s innovative science education exhibition Strike A Chord-The Science of Music at PP-IPTEK (Indonesia’s National Science and Technology Centre), Taman Mini Indonesia Indah today.

During his visit Mr Jenkins toured the exhibits and participated in a science demonstration and ‘Aussie quiz’ with students.

This award-winning exhibition will be held until 31 March 2010 and is being jointly presented by Questacon (Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre) and PP-IPTEK. Since its opening on 1 December 2009, Strike A Chord - The Science of Music has attracted tens of thousands of visitors each month.

Kebon Jeruk 11 Jakarta is one of a number of selected schools in Jakarta, South Sumatra and East Java participating in phase 3 of the BRIDGE sister school program bringing the total number of Indonesian schools participating in the program to 47 in 7 provinces.

Thirty one teachers from Indonesia will travel to Australia in 2010 to build partnerships with Australian schools, improve their English language skills and receive training on incorporating Information and Communication Technology into their teaching.

The BRIDGE program - Building Relations through Intercultural Dialogue and Growing Engagement – was initiated in 2008 by the Australia-Indonesia Institute and is funded by the Australian Government and the Myer Foundation. The Asia Education Foundation is delivering the program with the support of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

Media Enquiries:
Sanchi Davis, Cultural Attaché tel. (021) 2550 5260 mob. 0811 936 302