Excursions & Trips 

Korea Science Academy Science Fair

Dream! Design! Create!

The biennial Korea Science Academy Science Fair was truly an unforgettable experience. The fair ran over the course of five science filled days, and consisted of a number of amazing events that inspired all of us in our pursuit of scientific excellence. 

We were invited to present two of our projects, one on machine learning to detect skin cancer by Cally Ferguson, presented with Matthew Yau, as well as one on the effect of green tea on stem cell proliferation. The poster and oral presentation sessions gave us invaluable insight into the skills needed to succeed in research, as well as giving us the opportunity to view the work of the international community. Both projects performed extremely well, with my project winning ‘Most Innovative’.

There was an extensive list of options for the science workshops, which were also mini competitions. Cally and I participated in the engineering workshop, where we built a robot arm. We were split into teams, where we were able to form friendships with people from all over the world, from Kenya to Hong Kong.

Matthew worked in the physics workshop, where he built Heron’s fountain. A huge congratulations to Matthew and his team for winning the physics workshop!

Overall, both the culture and scientific experiences of the KSASF have further built on our passion for science, and allowed us to create a global network of like-minded peers. 

Both domestic and international science fairs are incredible chances to propel your future in science, and we would like to thank Mr Chisholm and Ms Ryan for ensuring our safety during the trip.

 By Jasmine Junawan 

Reef & Rainforest

While Melbourne was suffering through 7° frost and hailstorms, 43 year 11 JMSS students were soaking up the sun in tropical Cairns on the annual Reef and Rainforest Trip. Throughout our two weeks we experienced all that Northern Queensland had to offer, being fortunate enough to travel on four mini trips to Fitzroy Island, the Outer Reef, the Tablelands and the Daintree rain forest. 

On our trip to Fitzroy Island, we all stepped out of our comfort zones in an attempt to assemble and survive in a tent for a night, as well as swimming next to turtles, sharks and a myriad of colourful fish. In addition to our incredible snorkelling experiences, we also had the opportunity to contribute to the scientific data collection of coral health within the inner great barrier reef, investigating pH levels, Coral Bleaching and Agricultural Runoff and allowing us to experience life as a marine conservationist. As our first mini trip, Fitzroy Island raised the bar.

Accompanied by an overriding fear of seasickness, our next trip was on a liveaboard boat circling the outer Great Barrier Reef. The boat visited 7 different snorkelling locations and showed us the extensive variety of colours and  wildlife living in our oceans, such as reef sharks, green sea turtles, stingrays, parrot fish and barracuda. Getting to swim side by side with these animals showed us just how important it is to preserve our reefs and the wildlife within them. Needless to say, the liveaboard boat brought out the inner pirate in all of us and was by far the highlight of our trip. 

Our last two trips took us away from the water and further up into the Great Dividing Range in search of the Daintree Rainforest. Some highlights of our trips to the Daintree and Atherton Tablelands included aboriginal cultural talks, mud crabbing with traditional spears, Spotlighting, riding in the skyrail, waterfall swimming and sunset beach walks across croc infested mangroves. Being one of the oldest rainforests on earth, the Daintree brought the Reef and Rainforest together, while showing us just how elaborate, interconnected and reliant on each other they are. 

Despite all the early morning departures and late night adventures, we were granted some valuable free time to explore the city of Cairns; swimming in the lagoon, shopping and walking along the esplanade. We also spent two days at James Cook University, listening to world renowned scientists such as Jamie Seymour lecture on their research about venomous animals and personal encounters with box jellyfish. 

As a whole, we learnt more than we could have ever imagined on this trip, and the experiences we gained and friends we made will last a lifetime. We’d like to thank JMSS for this incredible opportunity and Small World Journeys and all the staff who helped organise such a wonderful trip. 

To all the year 10's out there, Reef and Rain is a must-do! 

By Taylah Collins and Hannah Singh

All My Sons

On the 19th of June, the Year 11 Literature class went to watch "All My Sons", a play by Arthur Miller. This production was broadcast to Palace Cinemas from The Old Vic in London and starred Sally Field and Bill Pulman.

In ‘All My Sons’, World War II is over and a family, mourning a son missing in action, plants a memorial tree and tries to go on with their lives. A storm blows down the tree and a devastating family secret is uprooted, setting the characters on a terrifying journey towards truth. Within this play, Miller presents a protagonist that walks a thin line between a villain and a hero, skillfully exposing the undercurrent of turmoil that threatens the idyllic suburban lifestyle of an American family. 

Within the play, ideas surrounding ‘The American Dream’ are heavily explored. Watching the characters scramble to maintain an image of perfection, even at the expense of their personal beliefs, provokes the viewer to adopt a closer examination into the motivations behind suburban life, and the themes and ideas connected to suburbia no longer seem as colourless. 

‘All My Sons’ left us questioning the apparent facade of everyday life, by raising themes of self-interest and destruction under the guise of normalcy. 

We would like to thank Ms Gallus and Ms Xu for taking us to see such an excellent and powerful play.

By Jasmine Junawan