Science News
Power of Engineering
On Friday 25th October, a group of Year 9 and 10 female students attended the Power of Engineering program at Deakin University. The event showed the girls that ‘everything is possible’ in their career and gave them a chance to experience first-hand what an engineering career would be like. The girls were inspired by successful women currently working in the engineering profession who shared their stories and the journey they took to get to where they are now. They got to try their hand at various engineering activities using state-of-the-art learning facilities.
One such activity, was the “Earthquake simulation design and building challenge”. The girls were required to design and construct a building which was able to withstand the ‘seismic’ activity generated by a shaker table.
Students then had the incredible opportunity of visiting an ultra-modern Engineering company called Arup in the city. Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, architects, consultants and technical specialists, working across every aspect of today’s built environment. They help their clients solve their most complex challenges – turning exciting ideas into tangible reality, while striving to find a better way and shape a better world.
During their time at Arup, the girls met with various engineers who gave them a tour of the modern office space. They had the opportunity to sit in the “SoundLab” – Arup's unique aural visualisation tool, which allows clients to experience the acoustics of proposed building designs before they are built. They saw how a 3D printer works and were gifted personalised key-chains made using this printer. They were also able to use state-of-the-art engineering and gaming equipment to drive a virtual journey. These virtual tours enable road and bridge designers to eliminate subsequent design variations.
The girls were inspired and intrigued by the many possibilities a career in Engineering can offer.
Science Talent Search
Earlier in the year, Ishwarya Polisetti in Year 10 entered the annual Science Talent Search run by the Science Teachers’ Association of Victoria. Science Talent Search is an annual event and is open to all primary and secondary students up to Year 12 across all of Victoria.
Ishwarya’s Experimental Research report aimed to observe enzyme activity and the effect temperature and size has on this. Of all the entries across Victoria, Ishwarya’s report earned her a minor bursary of $150 in the ‘Intermediate- Experimental Research’ division.
I attended the Presentation Day on 28th October 2019 held at LaTrobe University, Bundoora. Over 800 winning entries in 30 sections were on public display. The highlight of the day was when Ishwarya received her medal, certificate and bursary award, sponsored by the Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Ishwarya was motivated and inspired by this event and is already planning her entry for 2020. Well done Ishwarya!
Haroula Loucaides
Head of Science