This year’s National Science Week had the theme: ‘De-coding the universe – Exploring the unknown with nature’s hidden language’, inviting students to explore how mathematics and quantum science can be used to develop technology, solve real world problems and help reveal the secrets of the universe.

In the Science and Environment Assembly, we heard from guest speaker and St Catherine’s Old Girl, Professor Susie Nillsen (’86). Susie talked about her career progression and some of the great projects she has been involved with in her various roles at the Peter McCallum Cancer Centre, Australian Stem Cell Centre and Monash University over the years. She is now the Director of Research in Biomedical Manufacturing at CSIRO, and she was part of the team that developed the first COVID-19 vaccine in Australia.  She talked about the fantastic levels of collaboration that go into large projects like this. Linking to this year’s theme, she explained that biomedical scientists will frequently enlist the help of physicists, who are utilising quantum science to create new technologies that can assist in finding new ways to prevent and treat diseases.  It was wonderful for the students to hear from such a successful and passionate scientist, who is also warm and relatable, and I am sure she inspired girls in the audience to consider pursuing a STEM-based career.

In the Assembly, we also heard from students who have been involved in a variety of science-based activities throughout the year. This included students who attended the National Youth Science Forum, students who attended a Blood Synergy Conference and students who participated in the I-WiSH conference held at St Catherine’s for the first time this year. Along with reports from our STEM and Environment captains of all their club-based activities and initiatives, it was truly a fascinating, entertaining and inspiring morning!

We continued Science Week by celebrating with some fun events. A large group of students battled against the clock and each other to win the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Race.  We had an online Science Quiz that was hotly contested and we also had a return of the Science Cake Bake-Off. Eight amazing cakes were entered into the competition this year and prizes were awarded for both popularity and adherence to the Science Week theme.  Astronomy Night offered the students the chance to learn about how scientists use light to decode the mysteries of the universe. Miss Clare Haysom put together an informative presentation and keynote speaker, Ms Rowina Nathan, an astrophysicist PhD candidate from Monash University, chatted to the girls and shared insights from her research involving gravitational waves. Much fun was had by all, and some star-gazing with a hot chocolate in hand was a fitting end to the night.