Victor Chang Awards

On Tuesday 29 August, Dr Stephen Kennaugh and Mrs Hollero had the pleasure of witnessing Joshua Sammut and Jeremy Delfino in Year 11 receive their prestigious Victor Chang School Science Awards. Each year, two Year 11 students studying Science are nominated for this award to celebrate their excellence in the science field. Hosted by the Blacktown City Council, and presented by both Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale and Dr Charles Cox, Head of the Mechanobiology Laboratory within the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, students from various schools within the Blacktown region were celebrated and shown some of the possibilities available to them if they choose to pursue a career in science. A huge congratulations to Joshua Sammut and Jeremy Delfino for this incredible achievement, we look forward to seeing what they choose to do in the future.

Cochlear Australia

Students from Year 12 Investigating Science and some individual students from other science subjects were visited by representatives from Cochlear Australia. Students learned that Cochlear Australia is a company based at Macquarie University that builds cochlear implants for people who have significant hearing loss, allowing them to hear once again. The key purpose of this visit was to show that there are job and career opportunities for students which do not necessarily require any particular experience, study or qualification, with the options of full time or part time workloads - a great option for students who are studying in tertiary settings such as university, especially if they are studying at Macquarie University. 

Students were given the opportunity to experience an example of some of the physical work that may be involved if they work with Cochlear Australia, including using microscopes and specific tweezers to separate metallic strands that are the width of human hair, which will then be installed onto the cochlear implants. Those with steadier hands and keen eyes were able to further display their capabilities when threading tiny platinum rings the size of a grain of sand onto fine threads which were even thinner and finer than the width of human hair, also to be connected to cochlear implants. 

We would like to especially thank Ms May for organising this presentation as she constantly finds different options and paths for students as well as job and career opportunities.

Mrs Hollero, Assistant Leader of Learning Science

Physics ANSTO Excursion

On Tuesday the 5th of September, the Year 12 Physics class visited the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) located in Lucas Heights. The excursion was a highly anticipated event, and it is safe to say it exceeded any and all expectations. 

Our visit started at the discovery centre, where we got to see some familiar devices such as a cloud chamber, a model of a synchrotron, and even a full-scale replica of a nuclear reactor core. 

We then had the privilege of going into the ANSTO site, where we first visited the building which contained the Open Pool Australian Lightwater (OPAL) research reactor, the only nuclear reactor in Australia. Here we learnt about the different components and functions of the reactor that are used to produce neutrons, as well as the use of uranium for its fuel, and its applications, most notably for medical and research purposes. 

Further, we were lucky enough to see the reactor through real time camera footage, however we quickly moved to the next location in our tour; the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering. Here, we learnt about the different purposes of the neutrons produced by OPAL, and were able to see the various projects currently being run by researchers from all around Australia and the world. It is through these neutrons that nuclear medicine and diagnostic scans used in our hospitals are made. At the ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Facility we watched as workers manufactured technetium-99m, the exact radioisotope that is distributed across Australia to detect several types of cancer and other illnesses. It is said that one in two of us will benefit from nuclear medicine produced by ANSTO in our lifetime.

The final stop in our tour was the Centre for Accelerator Science where we got to see a linear accelerator, which was used for areas such as environment and climate studies to space technology testing and quantum materials fabrication. It is incredible to see this device in person as we studied these particle accelerators in class. 

After a quick lunch break, we went back to the discovery centre where we investigated different types of radiation, performing experiments with real radioactive substances, looking at the effects of different shielding and distances, before returning back to school. 

All in all, our excursion to ANSTO was a trip we will never forget. We were so inspired to learn about and witness the machines and products which pave the way for different aspects of our modern world. Knowing that such a significant device is located here, in Sydney, fuels our love for science, and motivates us to pursue our passion for the subject. We would like to thank Mr Jayaratna and St Andrews College for allowing us to undergo this informative and eye-opening experience.

Bianca Infante, on behalf of the Year 12 Physics Class

Junior Science

Some Year 9 classes demonstrated their understanding of the immune system by creating short stories written and illustrated within a lesson. Some amazing pieces of work were produced, showing their understanding of the various working parts of the immune system in an incredibly creative manner. While not all groups of students had illustrative talents, other talents were shown through some of the quality of writing and captivating stories written. 

Year 9 students also created a model of a neuron (nerve cell) using play dough to help solidify their understanding of its structure. A great, interactive way to help students remember the parts of a neuron. 

Year 7 students created models of cells by using different edible items to represent the various organelles of a cell. Some students even created a vlog style video explaining to the viewer exactly which edible component represented which cell organelle, and why. 

On behalf of the Science faculty, we apologise to the teachers and parents/carers who experienced the aftermath of students consuming cell models made from jelly, candy and lollies.

We look forward to seeing more achievements, experiences and demonstrations of scientific understanding in the future for our future scientists!

Mrs Hollero, Assistant Leader of Learning Science