The National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) is a competitive summer school program dedicated to exposing year eleven students who are heading into year twelve and are thinking about a career in science, engineering and related disciplines to major scientific institutions and researchers, so that they may make more informed choices for their future endeavours. They are also given training in time management, interview skills and public speaking. In previous years it has been known as the National Science Summer School (NSSS).

The Forum is a residential program and takes place during January in Canberra and Brisbane. All activities are supervised by student staff and resident Rotary counsellors. The program is extremely intensive with little time for outside activities except for meeting those people already in the program.

The most important aspect coming from the NYSF is a network of friends, colleagues and support groups throughout Australia which will be of value to participants for the whole of their lives. Very select students from New Zealand, South Africa and England are now also involved.

The NYSF continues after January, first in the form of university seminars and industry site visits in March and April and afterwards as a long term personal network of people with common aims.