In this week's newsletter we would like to share information about some class activities and excursions as well as upcoming Science extracurricular opportunities that students can participate in.

Excursions

During Term 1, Year 12 Biology students attended the Ballarat Tech School as part of their Unit 3 studies. Students investigated the process of bacterial transformation by introducing selected genes into plasmids. Students were able to use antibiotics to check if the bacterial transformation was successful. We also had the opportunity to tour the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute to see real world applications of the technology that students have been studying throughout Unit 3.

Year 8 students once again ventured to the Ballarat Tech School to engage in the STEM programs Automation and Tessellations. In the Automation program students were challenged to build an M&M sorter through constructing and programming a colour sensor to deliver M&Ms into the correct containers. For the Tessellations program, students applied their knowledge of mathematical transformations to create a tessellation. These tessellations were then 3D printed and a vacuum former was used to create a chocolate mould.  The ESTEEM moulds were then used to make tessellated chocolates.

Class activities

In Year 7 Science we are learning about mixtures. In this unit, we examine the difference between mixtures and pure substances. We also investigate how temperature impacts the amount of a substance that can be dissolved. In this practical task students made various mixtures and compared how long they take to separate into their components.

Here are some photos of our young scientists completing an experiment which involved taking measurements, carefully and accurately.

In year 11 Psychology, students have been learning about the structure and function of the brain and made 3D models of the brain, using playdough.

RACI ICQ (Royal Australian Chemical Institute International Chemistry Quiz).

Students have the opportunity to show off their Chemistry knowledge in the RACI ICQ (Royal Australian Chemical Institute International Chemistry Quiz). The quiz comprises of 30 multiple choice questions.

Year 11 and 12 Chemistry students, as well as Y10 Chemistry elective students, are automatically entered in the Quiz due to their enrolment in semester 2 Chemistry. Students.

Year 7-10 students are encouraged to participate. The quiz for them costs $5, refundable when they do the quiz. Students are asked to give their $5 to their Science teacher or Jenny Montgomery before the end of term.

The Science Experience 2024-2025

The Science Experience STEM program is essentially an 1, 2 or 3 day hands-on science, conducted across 20 universities and tertiary campuses Australia wide, for students currently in Years 9 and 10.

The program includes a variety of hands-on activities in laboratories, excursions, career information and interesting presentations by leading Australian scientists and engineers as well as the opportunity to make new friends.

The full cost for a student to participate is 1 day program- $75, 2 day program is $150 and the 3 day program costs $210 but your Local Rotary clubs may be willing to sponsor students to attend. There is no selection process and all students are welcome to attend.

For further information and application forms please contact your science teacher, the science learning area leader Miss Ivanka Saric, your local Rotary Club or check out the website www.scienceexperience.com.au The availability of places can be checked on the ‘Where and When’ page of the website.

If you enjoy Science then we encourage you to attend The Science Experience. You will need to register online.