Head of Science 

Science at Leighland is certainly ‘mooving’ ahead, with the temporary enrolment of our newest bovine students, a pair of heifers from the Dairy Tasmania “Cows Create Careers” program. Coordinated by Mrs Nicola Allen and a part of the course for High School Agricultural Studies, students have the opportunity to learn animal husbandry first hand, feeding the heifers twice daily, preparing clean bedding, clean water, supplementing their diet with pellets and, of course, giving lots of cow hugs because cows are very social creatures!

Students in the program also learn about the dairy industry, careers in dairy and the life stages of a dairy cow. At the culmination, students create a “moovie” on a chosen area of interest from the information taught. In October, these are judged with other schools and there is a presentation evening.

Recently, the Science labs at Leighland resembled a literal crime scene as the Year 7/8 middle years elective “Who Dunnit” teaches students some very hands on techniques used in forensic science. Students learn key skills of blood typing, fingerprinting, fibre analysis and crime scene protocols in order to solve crimes. This is put to practice in a simulated crime, where students have to determine who actually ‘dunnit’ by applying the cool sciences of forensic analysis!

Specifically, students become relative experts at contact trace evidence collecting, including solving the case of the mysterious disappearing quiz! Students used the collected evidence to eliminate or implicate suspects of the ‘crime’!

It is excellent to see so many opportunities for our science and elective students at Leighland having the opportunity to explore hands on science with real-world applications for careers. We are very lucky to have so many keen, interested and invested staff that work to make truly memorable learning experiences for our students here at Leighland.

Michael Wilkinson 

Head of Science