Excursions and Immersions

Monkey Baa's - Yong

Year 11 Theatre Studies and Year 9 Performing Arts students had the pleasure of attending Monkey Baa's performance of Yong written by Jenevieve Chang in Shepparton on Tuesday 12 August. 

All students thoroughly enjoyed this playful coming-of-age story, that explores Chinese-Australian history through the gold rush era, and are grateful to experience such a range of theatrical productions throughout their studies. 

Rebecca Hof

Science - taking our students all over the world

This week our Year 10 and 11 Geography, Year 12 Environmental Science and Year 11 Physics students heard from Dr Scott Chambers from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO)  - Australia’s national nuclear research organisation, focused on applying nuclear science and technology in health, the environment and the nuclear fuel cycle. Dr Chambers’ expertise includes high-precision atmospheric radon monitoring, boundary layer and stable boundary layer meteorology, large-scale atmospheric transport, tower and aircraft-based turbulence measurements of meteorology and trace gases, urban climate and air quality monitoring and science communication.

He shared with us some of the amazing places his research has taken him - including Antarctica and the highest mountains in the European Alps - making powerful real-life connections between science and the world around us. Students learned how scientists use radon gas to track pollution moving from southern continents to Antarctica, where some pollutants can even become nutrients. Did you know that each type of pollution has its own ‘fingerprint’?

We finished with a general discussion about climate change with topics like the release of methane from boreal fires, the way fire return frequency can stop forests from recovering, and the hotter fires in WA that are damaging newly World Heritage–listed Indigenous rock art. Students considered the challenges and solutions for the future, while also asking questions about career pathways in science, including what it would be like to work in Antarctica.

As one student said: “It made me realise science can take you anywhere in the world.” Another added: “Hearing how fast the climate is changing made me want to do more.”

Dr Chambers encouraged us to follow our passions, do our best, and trust that opportunities will come.

We thank Dr Chambers for generously sharing his time and expertise with us, leaving our students inspired to think deeply about climate change, explore solutions, and perhaps become the future scientists who will help shape a more sustainable world.

Ruth Phillips