Science
The Australian Brain Bee Challenge
The Australian Brain Bee Challenge (ABBC) is a competition for high school students in year 10 to learn about the brain and its functions, learn about neuroscience research, find out about careers in neuroscience and to dispel misconceptions about neurological and mental illnesses. The challenge was started in 2006 by the Australasian Neuroscience Society. All Year 10 students were invited to participate in Round 1 of the challenge, which was an online test. Thanks to Mr Simon Gurowski for coordinating Kilbreda’s participation.
Congratulations to the following students who have qualified to participate in the individual challenge of the Victorian State Final of the Brain Bee Competition on Wednesday 17 July 2019 at the Melbourne Brain Centre at Melbourne University:
- Skye Zhu-Maguire
- Shawnee Balogh
- Samantha Xu
- Kara Miwa-Dale
- Grace Corbitt
- Sophia Bryant
- Ellie Carter
We wish these girls well in their individual efforts and also in the team challenge and look forward to hearing about their experiences of the day.
The Conoco Phillips Science Experience
Are you a student in Year 9 or 10 with an interest in science?
You might be interested in registering for the Conoco Phillips Science Experience! The experience is a 3 or 4 day opportunity in a school holiday period -to participate in experiments, attend lectures and get a taste for university life. Students will gain insights into possible careers in the science, technology and engineering fields. The program is held in over 35 tertiary institutions, each with its own focus and flavour. If you are a student in Year 9 or 10, you are welcome to register for any experience that appeals to your interest base. Victorian opportunities are held at the Queenscliff Marine and Discovery Centre, RMIT, Swinburne University, Federation University Ballarat & Gippsland, University of Melbourne, Dookie and Swinburne University, KIOSC, Wantirna Campus.
Form more details and for an application form, please click here.
The cost is $190 for a 3 day program and $260 for a 4 day program. The program is also supported by Rotary, making scholarships possible for students to pursue at a local Rotary club.
The PDF brochure advertising all opportunities is found here.
For any further queries, please email
Jacinta Devlin Jacinta.devlin@kilbreda.vic.edu.au
Stile Cosmos lessons and the Squiz app
For a number of years, every Kilbreda student in Years 7-10 has had access to the Stile library of custom written lessons relating to contemporary issues in science. The Stile lessons have been developed in partnership with Cosmos magazine. The package aims to put students in touch with relevant science content in the world around them, and to build science literacy. It focuses on student understanding, analysis, evaluation and links to the real world. Stile have now launched a free app, called Squiz. The app is available from the app store. Once downloaded, the app contains a glossary and flashcards from every Victorian curriculum 7-10 science topic with sample quizzes that interact with the user, based on their response. Students from any year level of schooling can select and learn any topic from 7-10 to explore concepts of interest. Once the app is fully downloaded, students can test themselves on topic definitions using quizzes that need no internet. Download the app today to gain an instant revision tool at your fingertips. What better use of a phone while waiting for a bus or sitting on the couch?
itunes.apple.com/au/app/squiz/
Jacinta Devlin
Learning Leader: Science