Science

VCE Chemistry and La Trobe University

It was blindingly bright, the frost was tingling and it was -1oC as 31 young chemists and two teachers boarded the bus to travel across to La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus.

The plan was to give the students a taste of a university campus as well as to use some of the technical equipment that is part of the VCE Unit 2 chemistry course.

After Pritpal ordered a brief stop at Stanhope, we arrived at La Trobe to be greeted by two enthusiastic Education students, who gave a guided tour of parts of the campus before giving a presentation of their own pathway to University. The key take away was to take advantages of the opportunities that become available.

We were then off to the laboratories for the practical activities. Fortunately, Will had brought his own water sample (destroying a ute in the process) for testing. Despite gathering some nonsensical data, the practical skills displayed by our students were very good. During the day, they separated a detergent from water and tested its concentration using UV-visible spectroscopy; analysed a sample of sea water (and Will’s drain water) for its calcium content using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS); and were shown the workings of a High Performance Liquid Chromatography instrument, which was, unfortunately, not in working order.

After all the excitement, it was back to the bus. Jorja got us as far as Goornong before asking for a pit stop, then it was on to Shepparton in time for the package to get to the Yabby Cup.

The day was totally funded by La Trobe University and each of The Alliance schools, along with Numurkah Secondary College,  who are sending a group of students across to Bendigo. Many thanks to Kylie Glover, of Shepparton High School, who managed the liaison between the various Alliance schools and La Trobe; to Liv Tiso, of WPSC, who, at very short notice, made the travel arrangements possible; and to Malcolm of Fords Buses, who got us there and back safely.

Amongst a number of great things during the course of the day was an unsolicited comment from one of the La Trobe students who complimented  our students saying “You people are so good to talk to, you listen.” It pretty much summed up the behaviour shown by our students. We expected no less.