National Science Week
Celebrating National Science Week
Kilvington proudly kicked off its Science Week with an exciting lineup of activities designed to engage and inspire our students.
JUNIOR SCHOOL
Karen Chandler, Deputy Head of Junior School
Junior School students celebrated with a variety of engaging experiments and activities to challenge their thinking and to make connections to science in the real world.
The week began with a Science Show hosted by Jacob Le-Phan, our Year 6 STEM Leader. In an interesting demonstration, Jacob showed the reactions between various liquids — water, wine, milk and orange juice — using indicators to show how their pH levels cause color changes.
This experiment also highlighted the importance of safety in the lab, emphasising that we should never eat or drink our experiments! Students enjoyed watching the liquids transform from clear to pink, then to a cloudy milky color, and finally to orange as different solutions were introduced.
Next, students had the opportunity to explore and create bubbles of different sizes. They learned that bubbles form when air is introduced into a liquid with sufficient surface tension, stretching the liquid surface until a bubble pinches off. The activity also highlighted key concepts like surface tension, pressure, thickness, viscosity and evaporation.
A Science Trivia competition was another highlight of the week, where students tested their knowledge across various fields, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth and Space Science. Prizes will be awarded at an upcoming assembly to recognise their efforts.
A huge congratulations to Jacob and the Science Department for orchestrating such a fantastic week of learning and discovery!
SENIOR SCHOOL
Louise Macfarlane, Academic Dean of Science
As part of Science Week, 'Fred', our trusty science skeleton, has been touring the School to see what the students are up to.
In keeping with the theme of scientific exploration, Science Week took a thrilling turn with a ‘Nitro Circus’ demonstration. This engaging event examined the effects of liquid nitrogen on various objects, substances and environments.
Students watched in awe as the power of liquid nitrogen was showcased in a series of fascinating experiments. To cap off the fun, everyone enjoyed delicious ice cream, freshly whipped and frozen using liquid nitrogen.
For our Years 7 to 11 students, the Dissection Club offered a hands-on opportunity to explore the intricacies of biology. Students from Year 7 to Year 11 gathered in groups to dissect either a toad or a rat. Through this immersive experience, they gained valuable insights into the mysteries of the body and the complex systems that sustain life.
Girls in STEM Mentoring Program
Louise Macfarlane, Academic Dean of Science
On 14 August, Year 10 students Alyvia, Alexis and Avery Liew and Grace Mossman, participants in the Bionics Institute Girls in STEM program, had an enriching experience at Mallison House.
During their visit, the students spent time with their mentor, Professor Kate Hoy, and witnessed a demonstration of transcranial stimulation — a technique used to stimulate the brains of patients with dementia and depression. They also had the opportunity to hear from world-leading female scientists, gaining insights into pathways to research and doctorates. In addition, the students examined a cochlea stained with fluorescent antibodies and learned about the cutting-edge advancements in bionic ears and eyes.
Over the coming months, these Kilvington students will continue to meet regularly with Professor Hoy, culminating in a presentation of their research findings to the VCE Biology class in Term 4.