UOW forensic anthropologist Susan Hayes led students in a facial reconstruction workshop, helping them place a dough cast over a human skull to recreate a face.

Students were then encouraged to give their "head" a back story, sharing its past experiences with the group.

Yesterday's workshop was one of a number of learning labs held at the university this week.

Nearly 270 students from years 7 to 10 attended workshops in engineering, law, literature, creative arts, history and sciences.

Project officer Sarah Smith said the labs had been running since last year and increased in size each session.

"We plan to give gifted and talented students from the region something different to what they can achieve at school," she said.

"It's a chance for them to test out a field they might be considering studying after school and also an opportunity to extend and challenge them further in particular areas. It's something they wouldn't get in that school environment."

Students, who travelled from as far as Yass and western Sydney to participate in the program, have to apply for the labs and be in the top 10 per cent of their year.

Workshops are developed and presented by university academics, who relish the chance to show off their expertise.

"The academics absolutely love it; they love to share their skills with the students," Ms Smith said.

"The staff always comment to me how impressed they are by the kids; they quite often show a university-level of education with their questions and the things they produce, it's pretty amazing.

"They could easily compete with students at the university," she said.