STEM

STEM at Auburn High School

National Science Week Competitions Results

The National Science Week had great success amongst our students and staff who embrace the challenge of the cake and the photography/drawing competitions. Thank you to all our participants and congratulations to the winners!

In the photography and drawing competition:

• for the photography category:

1st Prize: Hugo Hood Micolon (8F) for the Green Frog

2nd Prize: Sasha Folley (12A) for the Desert Flowers

3rd Prize: Harleen Evangeline (8C) for the Sunset are mother nature’s way of saying she loves us.

• for the drawing category:

1st Prize: Emilie Thienpaitoon (8S) for the Parrots in the Wild.

2nd Prize: Jan Chan (10A) for the Laughing Kookaburra 

3rd Prize: Kara Ivancic (10F) for the Juxtaposition.

In the cake competition:

1st Prize: Ms Nola Cefai for The Sea Otters and Other Endangered Species

2nd Prize: Ms Wong-Fat for the Rain Forest Beasts 

3rd Prize: Damien Lynch for Uluru  

Meet a Biomedical Scientist: On Wednesday 21 August, Dr Stacey Keenen, a research fellow from Melbourne University, came to our school as a guest speaker to share her insights and expertise with our Senior School students and all passionates about science. Dr Keenan talked about her research on dysferlinopathy, her inspiring journey through high school and her tertiary studies, juggling casual jobs and assignments, and her personal commitment to help people with dysfunctional metabolism as an intrinsic motivation to guide her work. This amazing talk, coupled with murine tissues artefacts (read “mice in formol”), will for sure have a lasting impact on our students!

Term 4 – To come:

Swinburne University of Technology’s Innovation Challenge gives high ability students in years 10 to 12 an opportunity to extend their learning in Applied Innovation through a four week challenge and on-campus experience. AHS has registered an interest in participating in the 20th November session, which will conclude our STEM activities for the year. Expression of Interest is now open to Year 10 and Senior School students interested in registering a team to compete in this event. Please contact Ms Wong-Fat on MS Teams for more information.

Application to external STEM programs:

THE SCIENCE EXPERIENCE program is run at different dates by several universities between July 2024 and January 2025. Applications are still open for the later sessions but be quick as the program is filling up fast. More information can be found on https://www.scienceexperience.com.au/about-the-program

STEM KEY DATES: What’s coming up?

Monday 12 – Friday 16 August: National Science Week. Theme: Species survival, more than just sustainability.

5 September: Deakin Science and Engineering Challenge Competition – State Level.

20 November: Swinburne Innovation Challenge