SCIENCE

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK

This week we celebrated National Science Week at McKinnon. 

Students were invited to participate in a number of online events and incursions centred around the theme, ‘Deep blue: innovation for the future of our oceans’. This theme embraces the innovative technologies, capabilities and skills needed to achieve economic, environmental and social sustainability of our oceans. Popular events included the virtual Escape Room Challenge where students had to solve a series of problems to reveal a code and unlock the challenge. Other events included a webinar hosted by marine scientists discussing the impact of the biggest problems our oceans are facing and a virtual excursion of RV Investigator, Australia's 94m ocean-going research vessel. We also held daily competitions.

Why are our oceans so important?

Our world ocean produces over half of the world’s oxygen and stores 50 times more carbon than our atmosphere. It also regulates our climate. According to the CSIRO, “The concept of a ‘blue economy’ is one that balances sustainable economic benefit from the world’s oceans and coastlines with the need to protect their long-term health. Given Australia’s geopolitical position, the blue economy is fundamental to our and our neighbours’, ongoing economic, environmental and social prosperity. The blue economy is generally taken to consider all aspects of the marine, maritime, and coastal regions that have a direct or indirect impact on the economy. 

Recognising the importance of this, the Australian Government established the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) in Tasmania in April 2019. The CRC will use ‘big picture thinking’ to solve problems and use science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to design new solutions to forge future paths in the areas of offshore engineering and technology, aquaculture and marine ecology, and marine renewable energy. 

We thank the students and staff who participated in the events and helped celebrate National Science Week at McKinnon.

Cherie Marks

Head of Science