Learning and Teaching

This week is National Science Week, with this year’s school theme being Species Survival - More than just sustainability. This theme aims to highlight the importance of science and innovation in ensuring the survival and thriving of different species in an ever-changing world. It explores some of the critical challenges impacting Earth’s human, animal and plant habitation, especially here in Australia. This includes explorations of disease-causing organisms, life-saving chemicals, clean water, photosynthesis, genetic screening, physics of building structures, artificial intelligence, and microplastics.

Established in 1997, National Science Week provides an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of Australian scientists to the world of knowledge. It also aims to encourage an interest in science pursuits among the general public, and to encourage younger people to be fascinated by the world we live in. Within our science program, there are many opportunities for students to build scientific knowledge, but also to form hypotheses of their own and test them in real life practical situations – the best part of science according to Lucas Barroso!

As part of our assembly this week, Year 8 students Sophie Ryan and Hamish Brown shared their research and investigations undertaken as part of the Science Talent Search, allowing them to create, plan and carry out an investigation of interest to them. 

Sophie’s group investigation explored how long it took different types of guinea pigs to eat different types of food, while Hamish and his group created a hydraulic bridge from icy pole sticks in order to test the weight it could carry. 

These skills and opportunities build right through to our VCE students, who also shared their own scientific practical investigations as part of their Unit 3 & 4 Biology School Assessed Coursework. 

Lucas Barroso, Fay Harjanto and Arbella Little, shared details of their investigation, ‘How does the concentration of Copper Sulphate solution impact the effectiveness of Catalase to inhibit the decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide’ and did their best to translate their expert scientific knowledge and terminology for the rest of us!

Neve McClure, Muirne Reilly and Emma Valance described the way in which they set up their practical experiment, investigating ‘How does the colour of light effect the rate of Photosynthesis?’

Their passion and knowledge for science was clearly evident in the articulate and confident way in which they shared this week and a wonderful example for all of us about the importance of science in our everyday lives.