Science News
"In Miss Jensen's Year 8 Science class, students prepared their own microscope slides of onion, flower petals and celery. They enjoyed looking at the different cell structures under the microscope. In a previous lesson, students had soaked the celery in food dye so that they could observe the transport systems within the plant." Rebecca Jensen
“The HSC Physics class finished this term looking at electromagnetism, in particular electricity generation. The students recently submitted an assessment task where they were required to design and build an electrical generator. Designs varied greatly between the students, however, all students were able to generate a detectable amount of energy when they spun their armatures with an electric drill. The physics class have now moved into the next unit of their course, looking at the wave nature of light.” Elijah Marshall
Ms Depaoli was instrumental in purchasing some fabulous solar car kits that all students will be able to enjoy and learn with over the next term. These nifty little yellow cars should look great as they gather some momentum in the outdoor area.
In the laboratory, Mrs McIntosh reports a record number of practical sessions reaching a grand total of 192, that is nearly at the 200 mark for essentially 9 weeks of learning. The outdoor area has been used regularly as they engage with some STEM units and enjoy the natural sunlight while Griffith has such beautiful weather.
The Year 8 students will be gathering data for their student research project over the holiday break and Year 10 will be starting on their student research project when they return. These are mandatory practicals and provide an opportunity to follow an interest and ask some deeper scientific questions. With Mother’s Day is coming up early in Term 2, Year 8 will be engaged in a recycling activity and will be on the look out for plants, like the Hoya, which have adventitious roots to propagate in the Growing and Multiplying unit of work.
Year 9 will be given their first assessment task in Week 1 next term, which will be a creative writing task involving the scientific understanding in Medical Science. The College has a focus on writing for 2021, and so the science department will include writing in the student assessment in Year 9 and Year 7. You have to be creative to be a scientist!
Year 12 teachers have encouraged the students in the Higher School Certificate year to have a rest and enjoy the family celebrations over Easter, but also to use the downtime wisely.
Finally, the end of a fantastic term heralds the Easter celebrations and a time for reflection and renewal. The super seven science staff wish you all a restful and enjoyable break and look forward to sharing your journey of community and learning in Term 2.
God bless and keep you all safe
Best wishes
Esther Dumbleton (Science Leader of Learning)
Congratulations Amanda Harrison
Year 12 student Amanda Harrison attended the 2021 NYSF Year 12 Program in January. and met a prominate Australian Doctor, Dr Barry Marshall a Nobel Prize Laureate in Physiology or Medicine, who pioneered research in the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) which plays a major role in causing many peptic ulcers,
Set in a post COVID world, Dr Barry Marshall challenged participants to design aspects of a medical facility that could be operated remotely and without a permanent doctor.
The participants came up with some brilliant and innovative ideas, but taking out first place was Anousheh Moonen and Amanda Harrison with their Robobacter solution. In a close second was Manasi Nandapurkar and Esha Serai with their H.Pylori vending machine! Both groups won a signed copy of Prof Marshall's book 'How to Win a Nobel Prize, a chocolate Nobel Prize medal and a light-up h.pylori shirt.
Prof Marshall congratulated the winners and said "I was amazed at the imagination of the NYSF students. The project ideas were "Out There!!" but it's where we want to be in 50 years! These students are learning to redefine the impossible at the NYSF and I think that’s a very special thing."
You can read about the Nobel Laureate Lecture series at the 2021 NYSF Year 12 Program here: https://www.nysf.edu.au/not-one-but-two-nobel-prize.../
Applications for the NYSF 2022 Year 12 Program open soon. Find out more here: https://www.nysf.edu.au/programs/year-12-program/
Denise De Paoli
Science