Science & STEM News
By Sarah McKnight and Ryan Ringin - Faculty Leaders: Science and Technology
Science in Term 3 has been a busy and exciting term for all students! From Year 7 - 12, students have participated in a variety of excursions, experiments and guest speakers during regular timetabled classes.
Outside of class time, we celebrated Science Week with the theme 'Seeds of Science: Nurturing Knowledge for All.'
We welcomed back alumni Beth Wright who addressed students at our full school assembly. Beth is an undergraduate Biomedical Science student at Monash University and a 2022 Loreto graduate. Alongside her studies, Bethany works at global MedTech startup Diag-Nose.oi as a Junior Researcher and Medical Writer, helping to develop cutting edge respiratory diagnostic devices. Her work combines scientific research and medical communication, helping translate emerging research into technological solutions.
Students participated in a variety of activities during lunch time. They broke out of the escape room, crafted in the theme of botany and tested their trivia skills.
The Science Faculty is looking forward to a productive and inspiring Term 4.
Science Week
On 17-21 August, we celebrated Science Week at Loreto!
Our Science Department put on a range of activities throughout the week, including a Creator Space, Science Trivia and an Escape Room Challenge.
We also welcomed Bethany Wright (Class of 2022) to our assembly. Bethany shared her science journey with our students, from her time at Loreto to her current role as a Junior Researcher at Diag-Nose.io, highlighting the endless opportunities available within the science industry.
Thank you to our Science Department and Bethany for making Science Week such an engaging experience!
Year 12 Environmental Science
Term 3 has been an incredibly busy and exciting term for our Environmental Science program here at Loreto College.
Our Year 12 students have been busy finalising their coursework for the year, with much of Term 3 focused on two significant contemporary issues: climate change and how Australia can meet its future energy needs in ways that are both sustainable and fit for society.
To extend their learning, students completed a range of practical investigations both inside and outside the laboratory. They were also fortunate to hear from a special guest presenter from Melbourne University, who shared insights into her own climate research.
In the laboratory, students worked with simulated ice core samples, using their scientific knowledge to explore how climate scientists analyse ice cores to gain valuable information about Earth's past climates. We are incredibly fortunate at Loreto to have two dedicated and creative Laboratory Technicians who help bring our practical activities to life. Once again, Robyn and Jenny did not disappoint, creating some very impressive and rather 'cool' (pardon the pun!) ice core samples for students to investigate. Be sure to check out the accompanying photos.
Students were then privileged to welcome Anna Zehrung, a PhD candidate from Melbourne University. Anna delivered an engaging presentation on her research, which focuses on the use of climate modelling to help communities understand and respond to the challenges of climate change. Her presentation complemented our classroom studies perfectly, particularly as students had recently completed their own investigations into climate records through ice core analysis.
Anna's work provided a fantastic real world example of how understanding Earth's past climate can help scientists better understand our current climate and develop strategies to manage and mitigate future climate change. Just as valuable was hearing about Anna's own journey into scientific research and tertiary study. Her story was highly relatable and reassuring for students as they begin preparing for life beyond school.
As part of their final coursework, students also ventured beyond the College gates to a local property in Smythes Creek, where they worked alongside local landowners and Landcare representatives to investigate land management practices that support and enhance biodiversity. This hands on experience provided students with an authentic opportunity to see environmental management strategies in action within our local community.
As the term draws to a close, we are incredibly proud of the achievements of Loreto's very first Year 12 Environmental Science class. We wish them every success as they enter their final period of study and preparation ahead of their VCE Environmental Science examination in November.
