WHAT does one wear to attend a ball to be attended by United States President Barack Obama and the King of Sweden?
That is one problem that Southern Highlands student Saskia Dumas can consider solved as she prepares to attend the prestigious Nobel Prize ceremonies in Stockholm, Sweden, next month.
As one of two Australian representatives of the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF), Saskia will attend the presentation ceremonies for the 2009 Nobel Prizes for chemistry, physics, medicine or physiology, economics and literature in the Stockholm Concert Hall on December 10.
She will be among 1300 guests, including Nobel Prize winners, at the Nobel Prize banquet and ball in the Golden Hall at Stockholm’s City Hall.
Australian designer Carla Zampatti has played fairy Godmother, donating the silk taffeta and velvet dress that Saskia will wear to the ball.
Asked by a friend of Saskia’s mother for a dress at a discount price, Ms Zampatti sent 12 dresses and told Saskia to take her pick.
“I spent the whole day trying them on,” Saskia said. “All my friends were studying.”
Although Saskia expects to be “somewhere up the back”, she hopes to catch a glimpse of Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama.
In the week leading up to the presentation Saskia and 25 other young scientists from 18 countries will attend lectures by the 2009 Nobel Prize winners, including Australian molecular biologist Elizabeth Blackburn, the winner of the Nobel Prize for medicine.
“Each day is more exciting because I am finding out all the lecturers and getting closer to it,” Saskia said.
Seventeen-year-old Saskia was chosen as a NYSF delegate from 288 young scientists who attended the National Science Summer School at the Australian National University in January.
As well as studying for her Higher School Certificate, Saskia has prepared a seven-minute presentation on “The Mozart Effect” to the Stockholm International Youth Science Seminar.
Preparations for NYSF delegates will also include lessons in dancing and etiquette.
Saskia has been fundraising to meet the cost of her trip, and with the help of her NYSF sponsor, the Berrima Rotary Club, business sponsors, a generous donation from a local philanthropist and support from other donors, has almost reached her target of $9500.
“Local businesses have been very generous in assisting us and sponsoring Saskia,” her mother Gabrielle said.
Bowral Bags has donated luggage, Hair on High by Versace has donated a hair care package, author Bryce Courtenay has donated a book to be raffled, and artist Kathy McDougall has donated a painted tray.
With her final HSC exams in her favourite subjects, physics and chemistry, completed this week, Saskia is planning a garage sale this Saturday, November 7, to finish off her fundraising.
Toys, clothes, furniture, and HSC textbooks will be for sale at 88 Osborne Avenue, Burradoo, from 8am-2pm.