Science Week

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein that has inspired genetic engineering, biotechnologies, prosthetics, bionics, genetic modification, brain enhancement and ethics.

It is also the 40th anniversary of the birth of the first IVF baby. The school theme for National Science Week 2018 was Game Changers and Change Makers. St Catherine’s School opened Science Week with the annual Science Week Assembly.

Students were given the opportunity to share their work in the Science disciplines at the Science Week Assembly.

The assembly provides an opportunity for students to share their work as individuals and teams that are leading them on a journey to join other change makers. Each year the Science Faculty invite students to apply for the National Youth Science Forum (NYSF). The NYSF Year 12 Program is a 12 day residential program designed to give students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and to encourage continued studies in these fields. Students’ selection is based on academic performance in Year 11 and a panel interview.

The number of applicants around Australia exceeds the number of places available, so the competition is tough. St Catherine’s has successfully nominated a candidate for the last 10 years. Michelle Libreri shared her experienced and congratulated Mardi Bray on her acceptance into the program in 2019. The Years 11 and 12 Chemistry students outlined their participation in the Melbourne University Olympiad training program and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Titration competition respectively. Students from Years 7 and 8 participated in the Big Science Competition completing the Junior examination paper in May.

Students received a certificate for achieving excellent results in the Big Science Competition.

The Big Science Competition tests students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well their science knowledge. Test questions are written by the Australian Council for Educational Research. Thirty one students from Years 7 and 8 received a Credit or higher. The following students were acknowledged for receiving a Distinction certificate, placing them in the top 11% of the competition.

Year 8

• Angela Yu
• Beibei Zhang
• Charlotte Myer
• Ciara Jenkins
• India Marner
• Paula Chen
• Penelope Glenning

Year 7

• Ava Colosimo
• Emma Gregory
• Keyue Deng
• Livia Gowrie

Year 10 students Claire Hayne, Sophie Hogan, Indiana Wilde and Jasmyn Jiang outlined the Conoco Phillips Science Experience at Melbourne University. Year 7 students Laura Flack, Caitlin Wang, Christina Wu, Ellen Vote, Jo-Jo Patterson, Flora Du and Ava Colosimo outlined their projects for The Science Talent Search competition. The projects included videos about magnetism, how sound waves can put out fires, a computer game entitled Dicing Trivia based on space, science photography illustrating how pressure and kinetic energy can correlate with a soccer ball when being kicked and creative essay writing about great Australian change makers.

The Science Faculty has been a part of the CSIRO Scientists in Schools Program since 2008. In 2015, the Faculty was notified that Professor Paul Wood would replace Dr Hawkins who had taken up a position overseas. Paul’s enthusiasm to be part of the program has enabled us to develop our Year 10 Project, ‘Assessing the Credibility of Scientific Evidence’. Students are not only challenged to evaluate the evidence and the source but to present their findings to Professor Wood.

Professor Paul Wood addressed the Science Week Assembly.

Earlier this year, I received an email from Paul informing me that he had received the Order of Australia for his contributions to Science. Professor Wood graciously delivered the key note address sharing his journey and the contribution of women to science in Australia.

During Science Week, Year 11 students Grace Ritchie, Chloe Manson, Clementine Aston, Maddy Carey-wood, Mardi Bray, Emily Sutherland, Grace Ritchie and Olivia Soong attended the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Victoria Science Breakfast at Mentone Girls’ Grammar with Ms Macgeorge. Year 7 and 8 students enjoyed a presentation from Professor Bunsen, while Year 9 and 10 students were challenged with the Bad Science Show.

Science students and staff participated in the Science Week Quiz that tested their knowledge of the background of the Science Faculty.