Science Department News: Immersive Excursions & Hands-On Learning!

It has been an incredibly busy and exciting term for Science at Good Samaritan Catholic College. Our senior students have been out in the field and in world-class laboratories, while our junior scientists have been mixing up a storm on campus. Here is a look at what our students have been up to:

Year 12 Investigating Science: Dive into Nuclear Technology

On the 11th of May, our Year 12 Investigating Science students visited the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). This excursion directly supported their studies of Module 6: Technology, giving students a rare, real-world look at the OPAL multi-purpose reactor.

During the visit, students investigated the fascinating ways radioisotopes are produced and utilised in modern medicine, particularly for diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses. It was an invaluable experience that brought their classroom theory to life.

A big thank you to Mrs Luke and Ms Nicolas for supervising and supporting our students on this fantastic trip.

Year 12 Science "Kickstarts" University Life at USYD

Our Year 12 Chemistry, Biology, and Physics students recently travelled to the University of Sydney to participate in the prestigious Kickstart program. This unique initiative grants high school students access to high-end, research-grade laboratory equipment to aid their Stage 6 syllabus outcomes.

Our cohorts split into specialised streams to experience how a true university science lab operates:

• Chemistry: Students got hands-on experience investigating chemical spectra, actively utilising advanced diagnostic tools including H-NMR, IR, and UV spectroscopy.

• Biology: Students ran electrophoresis plates to visually investigate heredity and analyse/compare DNA samples.

• Physics: Students explored the complex nature of light, running advanced simulations to demonstrate wave-particle duality.

Special thanks to the dedicated staff who made these university visits possible: Ms Nicolas, Mrs Luke, Miss Pender, Mr Ortiz, and Miss Woods.

Fun and Fizz with "Particle Pals"!

Science learning isn't just for the seniors! This term also saw the successful continuation of the Particle Pals program, led by Mrs Colusso.

Our junior scientists rolled up their sleeves to create edible slime, giving them a fun, sticky, and hands-on introduction to the physics of non-Newtonian fluids. It was wonderful to see so much curiosity and enthusiasm in the lab!

Thank you to Mrs Colusso for leading the program, and a massive shout-out to our wonderful lab staff, Mrs Thomas and Mrs Chung, for preparing the equipment and making these experiments possible for our students.