Science

Year 10 Science

Last week, Year 10 Science classes had to incorporate a challenge to create a rollercoaster out of paper, cardboard, straws and sticky tape that needed to make a marble travel down it over five seconds. We had to apply our knowledge on types of energies, energy transfers and transformations that occur in a roller coaster. Some challenges with this task was to make a sturdy and stable roller coaster with the given time period. However, we conquered our challenges with two of the groups achieving average of six seconds. This challenge was overall a very good experience to help our leadership, creative and teamwork skills, which increased our learning in the Science classroom.

Jessica Flynn | Year 10 Science Student

Year 11 Macquarie University Work Experience

Luke Kupka, Emma Zou, Courtney Davis and I spent a week at Macquarie University’s ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders as part of a work experience program. We were able to learn about the brain, conditions that affect it and how it develops. Each day we had an array of speakers, who were experts in their field educate us on the brain. Along with these talks we also had to prepare a presentation that  we presented in groups at the end of the week. There were 12 of us in total from different schools and even in such a short time, we were able to create new friendships and work effectively and collaboratively.

One highlight of the week was visiting the anechoic chamber on the first day; it was located right at the bottom of the building adjacent from the carpark and was one of the most unique environments I have ever been in. During the week, we were also able to go see the various different technologies regarding brain imaging that they have at the centre. Some of these included the EEG machines, the MRI machine and the MEG machine of which there are only very few in the world. Another one of the stand out activities was being able to use a VR headset that came with kinetic sensors, allowing us to not only see but to truly feel the simulation around us. The experience was almost surreal, as the VR simulation felt so tangible.

We were also scheduled to do our own research task on the ‘attentional blink,’ which, in short, is the gap in attention the brain has when having to process two things in a short amount of time. We got to go and run the simulation and collate the results from our own attempts in order to formulate an in-depth presentation which we had to present in front of the head director of the CCD and many other PhD students.

Overall, the experience forced us to get out of our comfort zones and dive deep in to an area of research that is not well discovered as of yet. It is an excellent opportunity for students to experience and helps to gain an understanding of what University life is like and the array of opportunities. It also helps explore potential options and paths you can take after graduation allowing students to open their minds to the possibilities before them.

Maha Habib | Year 11 Chemistry Student

Year 12 Chemistry

Titration Competition

The NSW Schools Titration Competition is an annual competition consisting of practical skills and effective Chemical analysis, with over 1000 students participating. The two Y12 Chemistry students taking part alongside me (Charlotte Chan and Joseph Caspar) accompanied by Mrs. Govender competed at Barker College, facing off against schools such as Barker themselves and Hornsby Girls. We ran through the several titrations together, effectively working as a team in order to minimise our mistakes and even sometimes just to reassure each other that we would not be placed last!  Despite doubt over our results due to the nature of titration, as well as the highly stressful final minutes in which we rapidly calculated our answers, we felt relatively satisfied with our end results.

Overall, we came 7th amongst the 26 other schools, being awarded a Merit for having achieved a score between 100 – 200. Not only was this an excellent placing, but the experience and learning gained have proved to be invaluable in reinforcing the chemical techniques in the syllabus. I would, and I am sure my fellow competitors would agree, that the titration competition is an excellent opportunity to both bond with your teammates and learn about Chemistry itself.

Ollie Wong | Year 12 Chemistry Student

Guest Speaker and Alumni: Alyce Wangmann

In Year 12 Chemistry, we learn about how soaps, detergents and similar products are made. In class on the 25th, we had ex-student Alyce Wangmann who works in a Cosmetics Industry come in and talk to us about her career and also how they make moisturisers and other cosmetics. We were then given the opportunity to make our own moisturisers, choosing which type of oil and fragrance we wished to use. This enabled us to expand our knowledge of the topic of Industrial Chemistry and the chemical process of saponification while having fun.

Lucy Coote | Year 12 Chemistry Student

Let the Holidays Begin….

From all the Science Faculty, enjoy the holiday break and we are looking forward to Term 3 with all the students ready to continue their learning.

Also, to our Year 12 students currently studying for the Trial HSC exams coming up in Term 3, do not forget Study Conference in week 3 of school holidays here at school, we are looking forward to seeing you all.

The Science Faculty