Science

Colonizing Mars Excursion

On Wednesday the 15th of August, Maddy Smith, Rukia Lashkari, Chloe Burgmann, Siobhan Condrit, Emily Minotti-Watson, Caroline Smith and Ms Beattie attended the Colonising Mars program at The Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC).

The special program was put together by the six specialist Science Centers (VSSEC, GTAC, BioLAB, EcoLinc, Quantum, And Earth Ed) and was attended by 11 schools invited by these centers.

Students were proposed with the scenario; A virus has emerged and spread rapidly over most of the planet Earth. It is driving all mammals to extinction. Including humans. The only possible survival scheme is to establish a colony on Mars. You have been asked to take a leading role in setting up the expedition which will form the colony.

Robot spaceships will delivery materials, equipment, food, water and other essential supplies in advance but there is only time to build one small passenger carrying ship to take the founding colonists. Who and what will be taken on that ship?

Students began the day by making initial selection of crew and materials. They then broke up into six groups and completed specialist workshops in two different fields. These included: Space Physiologists, Interplanetary Molecular Biologists, Energy Engineers, Space Software developers, Aerospace engineers, and Astrobiologists.

To finish the day they returned to the initial scenario, applying their learning for the day and reviewing their choices. They then presented their ideas to their peers and listened to the choices made by other schools.

This integrated learning experience exposed students to a number of different aspects of science and allow them to apply their learning in an interesting scenario, as well as encouraging critical thinking, discussion, and team work to make and justify their choices.

Student were asked to share the memorable moments:

• “Learning about genetics and DNA” – Caroline
• “Meeting new people” – Emily
• “When I got to program a thing [device to locate water]” – Maddy
• “Testing rocket ‘fuel’ and putting it into a program to figure out its efficiencies” - Siobhan
• “When we got to test our reflexes with and without a helmet” – Chloe
• “Collecting DNA samples from skin cells and see if people had breast cancer [gene] or not” - Rukia

The opportunity to apply to participate in this program was extended all Year 9 and 10 students. We strongly encourage students to take up these opportunities when they arise

Currently we are seeking expressions of interest for Yr 9 and 10 students to participate in the ConoPhillips Science Experience at University of Melbourne –Dookie Campus from 28-30th of November. Please encourage your students to see Ms Beattie in the Science office, or their Science teacher if they would like to be considered for one of the four sponsored positions we have been offered.