The Science Faculty welcomes Ms Rachel Gwynne as our new Laboratory Manager. Rachel has worked for 24 years in the tertiary education sector as a laboratory-based senior research officer. Rachel will offer a new and diverse range of skills to our Science Faculty and students.   

The Science Faculty has commenced the academic year with the annual safety audit with Years 7 to 10 students. The audit ensures students are taken through the safety rules and the new Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals and the application of this information in situ. The safety audit provides a foundation for a safe learning environment.  

Teachers are committed to continuous reflection, questioning and action to identify changes that will improve the learning outcomes of their students. Our Science teachers have developed a range of activities to enable students to develop problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and engagement in critical and creative thinking.   

An early interest in STEM topics can be a predictor for later learning and career intentions. Different methods of scientific inquiry that generate primary data are currently being utilised by students to solve scientific problems. The foundations of scientific method can now be utilised throughout all units of investigation preparing students for the VCE Sciences.   

The National Youth Science Forum Experience

Year 12 students Jisu Yang and Nadia Mohamed passed the rigorous selection process and were selected to participate in the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF) held at the University of Queensland during January 2024.   

This immersive 10-day program brought together passionate young minds from across Australia who share a keen interest in science. The program provides a tailored approach to foster a supportive environment where participants can explore, learn, and grow.   

Jisu attended a lecture on a live tour of the CERN Large Hadron Collider and another on the nanotechnology applications to regrowing bones while Nadia paid a visit to the Integrated Pathology Centre, Translational Research Institute, and the Griffith Biomedical Centre. This list is not exhaustive of all the activities and learning Jisu and Nadia experienced either. Stay tuned for more from Jisu and Nadia when they share their experiences at our Science Week Assembly later in the year.   

Engaging Scientific Minds

As part of the Science Faculty’s commitment to extra-curricular activities, our Science students are encouraged to accept invitations to participate in exciting and unique activities throughout 2024 to challenge their thinking, explore their passions for the sciences and engage their scientific minds.  

Term 1 includes programs such as the Chemistry Olympiad Training at Melbourne University and the WEHI Work Experience. Additionally, the Year 8 Science Honours Program Simple Machines and Hydraulics and the Year 7 Science Honours Program (SPECTRA Chemistry Program) have commenced.