STEM

Broadening Knowledge is in our DNA

If students were given the power to study and manipulate genes, what would they do with it? PLC has acquired its own piece of cuttingedge technology, a gadget used by researchers on the International Space Station – a machine that replicates DNA. To enable the Years 6, 7, and 8 Science students to develop their deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology skills, PLC has recently incorporated the miniPCR technology into our teaching practice. The miniPCR, along with biochemical reagents and computer-based software, allows students to physically multiply DNA in minutes. “Once we have added the materials to the miniPCR and allowed it to work for 30 minutes, we get more than a billion copies of each DNA molecule,” Ms Brandenburg said. Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) gives students a hands-on experience. They have plenty of DNA to load, run, and visualise in the College’s blueGel electrophoresis systems. “This much DNA is fantastic. It means we get enough DNA to understand genetic diseases and solve fun forensic cases,” Ms Brandenburg continued. This has opened students’ eyes to micropipetting, gel electrophoresis, the polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, the use of data bases and DNA blasts.

“We are one of very few Australian schools to have this opportunity. Owning this technology provides a real edge to our teaching. It also means that DNA technologies have become more concrete and therefore more accessible for our younger students,” Ms Brandenburg said. “The miniPCR thermal cycler and blueGel electrophoresis systems have simplified DNA. It makes it so much easier for students to understand.” Across Term 4, 24 students from Years 6 to 8 benefitted from this technology through PLC’s innovative DNA Technologies programme, funded by the PLC Parents. The Science department has been amazed at the amount of learning and research that has come from this hands-on programme. “DNA technologies is an employment growth area. These tools are allowing our girls to gain experiences that most biologists don’t get until well into their university years,” she said.

Year 4 Science Fair

Year 4 students welcomed their parents into the classroom on Friday 2 September for an exciting Science Fair. Parents were fortunate to enjoy a display of students’ hypotheses, experiments, and scientific findings in a fantastic showcase of learning. The day was a success with students experimenting, building, developing, and demonstrating their scientific abilities.

Finding Solutions Through Science

Ms Michelle Clayton, Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator – Junior School

Science brings about solutions for everyday problems and provides answers to the greatest mysteries of the universe. It is an important channel of knowledge and whilst it has a specific role, it has multiple functions for the benefit of society, such as improving knowledge and education and enhancing the quality of life. It is for these reasons that the Junior School celebrate National Science Week annually through their Festival of Science. The Festival of Science (FOS) aims to ignite an interest in science, inspire students to perform new experiments, and make them aware of the latest developments in science and technology within the National Science Week theme. On this day, all students participate in several scientific activities ranging from hands-on science and STEM experiences, engagement with guest speakers and opportunities to participate in incursions or excursions. This year, the theme was ‘Glass: more than meets the eye’ and students from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 made sugar glass, mirror windows, marble run challenges, kaleidoscopes, telescopes, experimented with jelly optical fibres and hot glue glass fibres, photography, and more! The value of parents in a child’s education is undeniable and research shows that girls’ attitudes to STEM are most strongly influenced by their immediate family. Thus, parents are encouraged to support the various FOS activities and share their expertise. Quantitative and longitudinal data has shown that one of the five main reasons girls are not taking up careers in science is the lack of exposure and experiential opportunities in primary school. In the Junior School at PLC, we are purposefully trying to negate this happening by celebrating and engaging in National Science week and also by providing science and STEM opportunities within our Units of Inquiry. The FOS reinforces the importance of science in our daily lives and the commitment of the Junior School to promote girls in STEM, through early opportunities and experiences from a very early age. We hope that our FOS provides hope and inspiration to our students and future generations to pursue their dreams.

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Serious About Science

“Science Week has opened my mind more to the world of science and to the different science careers available,” Josie Raston (Year 9). Each year, PLC dedicates a week for students to immerse themselves in all things science and, this year, it kicked-off with a Science Assembly with guest speakers to inspire the girls to consider STEM careers.

Old Collegian, Dr Jessamine Soderstrom (1990), who is an Emergency Physician at Royal Perth Hospital, a Clinical Toxicologist, a Clinical Senior Lecturer and UWA, and TED presenter, spoke about how she found her love for Science at PLC. The periodic table was one of the few things that she understood after migrating from Malaysia and only initially speaking Malay; the periodic tables of elements is the same across the globe. She continued to discuss the interesting places her career has taken her through being open to opportunities. Associate Professor, Katarina Miljkovic, from Curtin University and winner of the 2022 Women in Physics Lectureship, is a planetary scientist with expertise in numerical and experimental impact physics and a passionate advocate for studying science. She also spoke about seizing opportunities regardless of whether they are in your comfort zone, or not. Science Week continued with a number of practical incursions, excursions, and experiments. Some of the highlights included the International Baccalaureate students working together using their knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology to design experiments to combat a nuclear disaster. One student built a solar car, while another conducted desalination experiments to turn ocean water into clean, drinking water, while others attempted to grow plants under different light conditions. The Year 9 cohort learnt about tectonic plates and volcanoes using Mars Bars during an incursion facilitated by OzEarth, while Year 7 students used their laptops to access the same tools used by researchers and astronomers to observe and collect astronomical data. Facilitated by Institute of Radio Astronomy (ICAR), students accessed and remotely controled the four current SPIRIT robotic telescopes in real time to take images of distant astronomical objects, as well as scheduled automated data acquisition as part of more sophisticated research projects.

Grandparent’s, Special Friend’s and Arts Day

Ms Colleen Garland, Junior School Art Teacher

This year has been all about flexibility and resilience. When the Day of Mourning to acknowledge the passing of Queen Elizabeth II fell on a day originally planned for our Art’s Day, we were quick to adapt and restructure Arts Day and combine it with Grandparent’s and Special Friend’s Day – a format we discovered was incredibly successful. It began with the students sharing their learning in their classrooms with their grandparents and special friends. Normally on this day, a book is read, a bookmark made, or a game played. This year, the grandparents and special friends were also taken on a personal tour of the Junior School, the new music building, and the Junior School Art Exhibition. The students were extremely proud to show their artwork. They confidently explained the transdisciplinary theme, the central idea, the design thinking, and the making process to their guests. After the tour, morning tea was served to our special guests by our wonderful parent group. This was a lovely time for old friends to get together and for new friendships to form. After morning tea, the students joined the grandparents and special friends for a wonderful singalong led by Music Teachers, Ms Hayley Burns and Ms Linda Arnold. This was the first time we have done this and the enthusiasm shown and the lovely chorus of voices was outstanding. Our Arts Day festivities continued with a special assembly with a Junior School production of Robin and the PLC Hoodies. It was a wonderful opportunity for Performing Arts to shine in front of the Junior School community.

An Insight into Creativity at PLC

Ruby Meara (Year 12), 2022 Creative Arts Captain

This year’s Creative Arts and Technologies Exhibition, InSight, was a beautiful display of our students’ hard work. The large attendance for the exhibition opening night made me overwhelmed with joy, seeing the wider PLC community engage with the students and their artworks. Art is not only a form of selfexpression, but one of activism that allows us to share our unique insights of the world and, as students, having this opportunity is a luxury. The night included a highly entertaining fashion show from our Textiles students, a captivating viewing of the media students’ short films, as well as a tremendous display of skill from our Woodwork and Visual Arts students. The wide range of techniques and mediums used throughout the exhibition reiterates just how many opportunities there are within the Creative Arts. I am so thankful for all the opportunities the staff have given me and for the lifelong friendships I’ve made, so I would absolutely encourage everyone to get involved with the creative arts no matter their skill level or age. Additionally, respected mixed media artist and PLC Old Collegian, Samantha Sadik (De Sillery 2005) was present for the opening of the exhibition. Samantha spent the evening carefully evaluating every artwork as well as selecting three of her personal favourites. Samantha shared her wisdom of the art world with us, providing very valuable insight and inspiration, which I know all the students appreciated. After seeing everyone’s hard work displayed at the exhibition, I have never felt prouder. I can’t wait to see what artworks are produced in the years to come.