Science News
National Science Youth Forum
he National Science Youth 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 universities in Canberra and Brisbane.
Hundreds of students across Australia apply for this program, and this year we are fortunate enough to be sending two students - Ella Yardley and Nayani Navaneethan.
Their participation has been made possible by the support of the Rotary Club of Griffith Avanti, so we are incredibly grateful for their support.
We wish Ella and Nayani all the best in their scientific adventures.
Ms Davis
Year 9 and 10 - EDU Conference
I have been so proud of the year 9 and year 10 girls who presented at the prestigious EDU Conference “ It takes a Spark” in Melbourne. Thanks to the hard work of Denise DePaoli and the girls, many students and teachers enjoyed the workshop and presentation on a STEM activity of making an earthquake simulator and designing a building that could survive an earthquake. As you know, Miss DePaoli organised Marian to have a seismometer installed in the science area that linked with a network of seismometers with Geoscience Australia. Today, the girls went through the Insect section of the Melbourne museum and enjoyed a road safety and stopping distance experience using virtual reality.
We will arrive home tonight having had some wonderful learning experiences. I take this opportunity to praise the dedication and expertise of Miss Denise DePaoli and the impressive capacity of the girls involved.
We offer our prayers and best wishes to Mrs Dhanoa who has gone overseas to support her sister who is very unwell. Mrs Dhanoa is expected back next Term. Many thanks to Corene Ellis who has been taking Mrs Dhanoa’s classes. We are extremely lucky to have Ms Ellis in the science classes this term.
With the HSC coming ever so near and the last few weeks of the Term celebrating the Year 12’s contribution and success at Marian, I encourage them with our best wishes and prayers on behalf of the Science staff. I am sure they will buckle down and work hard for the remaining study period before exams.
With the holidays approaching, I trust that you will all rejuvenate and enjoy special time with family and friends over the short but welcomed break
God bless
Esther Dumbleton. ( Science Leader of Learning)
It takes a spark conference Melbourne 12 September
After 2 months working on Earthquake simulator projects during lunchtimes, 14 girls in year 9 and 10 from Marian Catholic College were ready to lead a presentation on their project at the It takes a spark conference Melbourne 12 Sept. The intent of the conference was to bring together Girls and their Teachers to connect with inspiring female industry role models, share their current school based activities and projects using an authentic sharing and experiential model, create networks of teachers and student teams, and solve social justice design challenges.
The guest note speakers were;
BONNIE COXON
Principal Engineer, Newcrest Mining Superstar of STEM
As a Principal Engineer, Bonnie Coxon is playing a part in driving a sustainable future by combining her engineering skills with her ability to lead social change and create a new mining future. Bonnie is passionate about championing women in STEM and is involved with Sisters in Science and is on the committee of the Women in Mining Network.
DR KUDZAI KANHUTU
Royal Melbourne Hospital Superstar of STEM
Dr Kudzai Kanhutu is an infectious diseases and telemedicine doctor based at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH). Her research is focused on the role that digital technologies can play in enabling better access to care for marginalised communities. This year Kudzai is most looking forward to travelling to the UK and USA to learn how artificial intelligence is being used to improve patient care. In her spare time she enjoys playing tennis, dancing, racing remote control cars and learning about astronomy.
NATASHA HUANG
Country manager UBTECH
Natasha works with robotics products that range from educational robots to enterprise solutions and bipedal robots, vertical markets including healthcare, transport, retails, telecom, finance, education, hospitality and government. Service robots could be used on wayfinding, translation, concierge, customer services, patient care and vertical market content based voice conversation.
The inspiring guest speakers had THREE take home points
Have a go
Never worry about asking questions
Failure is ok
After being inspired by the speakers, our students ran the Earthquake workshop by presenting a slideshow, engaging in teaching other students and evaluating their workshop.
Ms De Paoli
Science