Scitech inspired brilliant young mind
Childhood trips to Scitech were a simple joy for Michael Taran, 19, but they also fuelled his exploding intellect.
Homeschooled by his parents until he joined Perth Modern School in Year 10, Mr Taran, of Nedlands, made regular visits to Scitech from the age of six to 16.
In 2010, he won the Beazley Medal after achieving the highest possible Australian Tertiary Admission Ranking of 99.95.
The long-time "Scitrekkers" club member is now in his third year of medicine at the University of WA, where he is completing a research honours degree in neurophysiology.
While Mr Taran has a brilliant scientific mind, he is also an avid cinematographer and co-founded a student media network earlier this year.
"I would say Scitech is a big part of why I'm interested not just in the sciences, but also the arts," he said.
"That's one of the really good aspects to Scitech - it actually highlights the links between the two."
Working towards a career as a maxillofacial surgeon, cardiothoracic surgeon or neurosurgeon, Mr Taran has come a long way since Scitech piqued his childhood curiosity.
As the Scitech team looked back at 25 years of service yesterday, he reflected on the fun-filled visits which shaped his way of thinking.
"The great thing about the exhibits is they can be understood at any level," Mr Taran said.
"If you're a kid, you can just play with them, but then as you get older, you ask questions."
