Science Update
7 Science
Year 7 science students have started the year investigating classification and ways to group organisms based on physical characteristics. Ask your child what a dichotomous key is and what it is used for. Challenge them to a race to find the answers in the activity below:
Activity: Use the dichotomous key to find the scientific name of the 4 insects below.
Dichotomous Key for Insects
1a. Wings are covered by an exoskeleton* — go to step 2.
1b. Wings are not covered by an exoskeleton* — go to step 3.
2a. Body has a round shape — Hippodamia convergens
2b. Body has an elongated shape — Cyphonocerus ruficollis
3a. Wings point outward from the body — Aeshna cyanea
3b. Wings point toward the rear of the body — Apis mellifera
8 Science
If you walked around junior secondary in Week 4 you probably would have heard a lot of shrieking coming from O block. Students in Year 8 have currently been studying a chemistry unit focussing of the particle model of matter. Students were treated with a liquid nitrogen and dry ice demonstration to observe changes of state in matter. With temperatures reaching -196oC and -78oC respectively these chemical compounds are very effective in demonstrating how temperature effects matter. Students watched in awe as teachers demonstrated how carbon dioxide sublimating (changing state from a solid to a gas) can blow up a balloon and when dry ice is placed in hot water it bubbles furiously sublimating to gas due to the sudden change in temperature. The liquid nitrogen was more exciting still with fresh flowers and fruit frozen into a glass like state which shatter when touched, a blown up balloon that shrunk when immersed in the liquid nitrogen and then expanded again when taken out. The piece de resistance and the one that ensured the most amount of astonishment was the de-fuzzed tennis ball which was immersed in liquid nitrogen and thrown against the floor. The result was a loud explosion of glass like rubber in all directions with many students shrieking in surprise!
9 Science
At PBC we are so lucky to have access to the Currumbin Creek and the adjacent nature reserves. This term, Year 9 students have been investigating human impacts on the Beree Badalla reserve. Over the past few weeks students have collected biotic and abiotic data from the reserve to determine the overall health of the ecosystem. A research report detailing overall findings has been started. Students will complete an ongoing draft for this assignment with the final research reports due in Week 8.
Senior Science
On 11 February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 25 young PBC female STEM enthusiasts were invited to partake in a breakfast and livestream Q&A with three leading women in science. The event was hosted by QUT with the discussion being led by Professor Kerrie Wilson amongst special guests Dr Cecile Godde, Dr Susanna Cramb and Dr Yanni Chin. These women have contributed to the environmental and agricultural sciences, as well as health and biomedical innovation. PBC was one of nine schools livestreaming the event, with many others present at the panel. Throughout the event, the women discussed their journey in STEM and how it has shaped them into the people they are today. Students present at the panel were invited to ask questions about the special guests’ journeys and how their experience could benefit the emerging generation of women in STEM. Overall, the event was incredibly rewarding and helped many of us see potential career ideas for the future. This day is essential to recognising the critical role women and girls play in science.
Erin Woods and Jaime Pryor, Year 12
PBS STEM Ambassadors