AT ITS most flamboyant, the fun factor of science makes Hollywood movies positively yawn-inducing.

Yesterday in Casino, teen jaws dropped as streams of "elephant toothpaste" erupted out of a glass flask, an effect matched by the Frankenstein-like dry ice steam emanating from a neighbouring tray.

These were some of the dazzling highlights yesterday of the annual science show at Casino High School run in conjunction with Sydney's Macquarie University.

Everyday materials such as dishwashing detergent, antiseptic cream, and food dyes were combined into a variety of witty experiments to encourage young minds to delve into the mysteries of chemistry.

For Year 7 student Kian Bradley, dry ice was the highlight - and he quickly learned it was not to be touched.

"It's minus 75 degrees so you basically get frostbite if you touch it for too long," Kian said.

"I reckon you could only hold it for a second even though my friend says he held it for three seconds.

"I doubt it," he laughed.

"You can pick it up but it will burn your hand quite quickly."

The elephant toothpaste was also a crowd favourite, so-called because "it's so thick an elephant could use it", Kian said.

Professor Jamie said the group put their heads together and came up with a plan which would achieve two goals in one - encourage young people's confidence and teach them about science.

"We started running science shows where the indigenous youth are leaders and they show a range of hands-on science to junior students at the school," Professor Jamie said.

"They become role models for the junior students.

"We work with a lot of indigenous youth to give them confidence, and leadership skills and we use science to do so."

In the Northern Rivers the shows are run at Casino, Lismore and Maclean.

"Our first ideal was to get them to see their own capabilities and to get them to want to complete high school, and they also start to think about education beyond school."

"Some of these students aspire to do science, for others it's just recognising that they can do this.

"We can see having done this every year for 10 years that these kids have grown in confidence.

"They're quite professional with what they do, they do a terrific job."

The success of the shows has led to a bigger, more ambitious initiative called the National Indigenous Science Education Program which runs similar events around the country in partnership with several universities alongside Macquarie.

The program culminates in Sydney each August at the Redfern Community Centre in an event called The Indigenous Science Experience featuring a celebration of Indigenous and Western science and involving Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students from around Australia.

Year 10 Casino High student Kyle Parry has been involved for the last four years in the shows, visiting Sydney every year since Year 8.

"This year and last year I was a leader taking care of a group coming to visit the university," he said.

Kyle said he relished the opportunity to be a part of the shows.

"You get leadership skills, you make new friends, you work with people and it's just good fun."