Science
On 11th June, students had an exciting incursion with sheMAPS. Girls from Year 7 and Year 8, along with students from the support unit, had the opportunity to fly microdrones and learn from a drone expert. The session included insights into real-world applications, such as flying drones over beaches and mangroves, as well as hands-on coding to control the drones. Students practiced manoeuvring the drones, tested flight patterns over maps, and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Miss Trinh
Classroom Teacher
USYD Engineering Day
Elderslie High School students participated in the CSIRO Generation STEM Engineering Day at the University of Sydney, where they engaged in hands-on activities in two engineering workshops. The first session required students to build electric circuits to explore electrical engineering concepts, while the second session focused on biomedical engineering by creating a shoulder joint. The day concluded with a tour of the engineering precinct to learn about the cutting-edge facilities available for engineering students.
We extend our gratitude to the Generation STEM Community Partnership program for funding the excursion, which provided our students with the opportunity to build connections between schools and industries in NSW, highlighting local STEM careers and learning opportunities.
Warragamba Dam
Our students had an incredible learning experience with WaterNSW, diving deep into the role of water in our lives. They learned how water is captured and naturally purified, conducted hands-on testing for temperature, turbidity, and pH, and toured the impressive infrastructure of the dam!
From exploring the inner workings of the dam walls to discussing diverse STEM career opportunities, students gained valuable insights into the importance of water management and the skills needed to contribute to this vital field.
We would like to thank the Generation STEM Community Partership program for funding the excursion and allowing our students to foster partnerships between schools and industries in NSW, showcasing local STEM careers and learning opportunities.
Exciting news! Three of our talented students were recognised by BioTech Futures for their innovative design of a prosthetic shoulder joint during our USYD Engineering Day. We are very proud of their creativity and dedication to making a difference!
Science incursion with AROSE!
This term, students across Years 7-12 experienced the interactive AROSE’s Virtual and In-person STEM Training and Awareness (AVISTA) Program. The program explores the role of aviation, robotics, AI and autonomous systems in industry, including defence, highlighting how these fields can lead to exciting careers in tomorrow’s advanced, high-tech industries.
Students experienced a range of demonstrations including vortex rings, Bernoulli bag, flying toilet paper and the whoosh bottle! Some lucky volunteers were able to participate up on stage! These experiences were used to explain STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) concepts such as air pressure, the Bernoulli effect, the Coanda effect, combustion and AI and how they link to many future career paths such as aviation, space travel, logistics and intelligence.
A clear highlight for all participants was meeting the AI Robot Dog, used to demonstrate the use of robots and AI for situational awareness.
With the explosion of technology and data in the 21st century comes the reality of space travel for tourism, a change in availability of careers and an increased demand for science and technology skills. In Australia, employment in STEM occupations has grown by 19.7% in the past five years - this is almost twice as fast as other jobs. In the next 5 years, jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) are predicted to grow by 14.2% alone! So it is likely that many of our students will find their future career in a STEM related field. Providing them exposure to possible STEM career pathways through these programs helps students develop career pathways and career goals for future success!
