Science Week
Over the week 10 to 18 August, the nation celebrated the acclaimed Science Week!
This year’s theme was "Destination Moon: more missions, more science” — in recognition of humanity entering a new era of space exploration, with plans to set up a base on the moon to eventually support missions to more challenging destinations such as Mars!
An example of such a mission is NASA’s Artemis Program, which is "committed to landing American astronauts, including the first woman and the next man, on the Moon by 2024.”!
At MGSC, the STEAM Team hosted awesome science-related activities every lunchtime that week. Following the purpose of the STEAM Newsletter initiative (to promote science opportunities, news and interest for the students), they also shared a summary of local Science Week activities that the students could enjoy outside of school.
Below is a recount of each Science Week activity MGSC celebrated. The STEAM team and participants had a lot of fun preparing and performing these events and look forward to seeing what next year has in store!
Casey Boswell (Year 12)
Senior STEAM Leader
Science Breakfast
During Science Week six students from our school were invited to attend the Science Breakfast event at Mentone Girls’ Grammar, and we were lucky enough to be given a speech by our guest speaker, Gail Iles.
Dr Gail Iles is a condensed matter physicist who had worked on X-ray diffraction experiments and parabolic flight experiments before becoming a trainer to the International Space Station Crew through simulated ISS Operations. Now Dr Iles is a permanent lecturer at RMIT University for undergraduate Mechanics and Nuclear Physics and the new Bachelor’s degree in Space Science.
Throughout her talk, we and other girls from the local school area, all felt astounded and inspired by her journey of how she became an independent young woman today. She did not have perfect grades as we expected of physicists, nor did she follow a smooth path through university due to having two children consecutively, yet she achieved remarkable results in her life.
At the end of the talk, the girls all enjoyed a breakfast buffet provided by Mentone Girls’ Grammar, while attempting a 15 question quiz related to space travel. Isla and l, as well as four girls from other schools, achieved the highest mark and received a pack of chocolate (Yes!).
I felt honoured to hear the talk from such a high achieving woman, who persisted through all challenges with an 'I can do it!’ mindset, disclaiming any comments that belittle her because she is a woman through her accomplishments.
Tina Mao (Year 11) for
Ayannah Blazek (Year 12), Casey Boswell (Year 12), Chloe Macaulay (Year 12), Ava Jaconelli (Year 11) and Isla McAllister (Year 11),
Florey Institute guest speakers
Representatives from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health came to talk to Year 10 and VCE science students during Science Week. Amy Shepherd shared with us her journey through science at the various institutes she has studied at before gaining her PhD. Her research on mice with Alzheimer’s was interesting and relatable to our Unit 3 Psychology course as we have learnt about Alzheimer's disease and how it effects people. It was great to be able to talk about where science can take you as Amy told us how her studies are about to take her overseas to the US where she will continue further research.
Mangor Pedersen also spoke to us about how his interest in science has taken him all around the world and brought him to a career he enjoys. It was interesting to hear about his research with the AFL exploring how concussions and mild traumatic brain injury in footballers effects their brain showing that a career in science can lead to many different outlets amongst society.
At the conclusion of the talk when Amy and Mangor had shared with us their research it was great to be able to ask questions about how they began their science journey and how their interest became their career. The Florey Institute talks enabled the VCE science students to see where science can take you in your career and the extensive research possibilities that are out there to be explored.
Megan Tedstone (Year 12)