Students at St Catherine’s School use science to aid community projects

“It’s altruistic,” St Catherine’s School head of science Vanessa Jackson-McRae said. “Students not only solve a scientific problem but the outcome can benefit others.”

A collaboration with Victoria University enabled girls at the independent boarding school in Melbourne to design a circuit for a teddy bear that helps young children with autism and cognitive disabilities to communicate and learn.

Strong bench: St Catherine’s head of science Vanessa Jackson-McRae with students Celia Cody, Hariette Dryden and Flynn O’Brien. Picture: Chloe Smith.

STUDENTS at St Catherine’s School in Toorak are taking classroom science to the next level.

The school’s “Science Students @ Work” program is encouraging small teams of selected senior students to collaborate with organisations and universities to apply science to problems outside of school.

“It’s altruistic,” St Catherine’s School head of science Vanessa Jackson-McRae said. “Students not only solve a scientific problem but the outcome can benefit others.”

A collaboration with Victoria University enabled girls at the independent boarding school in Melbourne to design a circuit for a teddy bear that helps young children with autism and cognitive disabilities to communicate and learn.

Children can press the teddy’s paws to give specific instructions, including whether the child is hungry or thirsty, or requires the bathroom, in an effort to better communicate their needs.

“It has a USB port so an occupational therapist can change messages on the teddy,” Ms Jackson-McRae said.

The iTed won a Silver Medal in CSIRO’s Creativity in Research, Engineering, Science and Technology Awards and currently operates at Diamond Valley Special Developmental School.

Another project had students working with Monash University’s School of Psychology to develop a resource booklet for teachers about how to assist students with Fragile X syndrome, an intellectual disability. Symptoms of Fragile X can include delayed speech, anxiety and hyperactivity.

“It’s being used extensively,” Ms Jackson-McRae said. “We even received an email from Sydney saying, ‘Can we use that book?’.”

Students are selected into the program based on their ability to work collaboratively, their interest in science and the skills they can bring to the project chosen.

https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/country-living/education/connected/students-at-st-catherines-school-use-science-to-aid-community-projects/news-story/fcdf84238e123f0439eb26ae9cd4d217

Chantelle Francis

The Weekly Times, CONNECTED

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