Science podium finish

Students master experiment in international competition

RGS Year 10 students claimed a podium finish in a global science competition in Term 3. Sandee Weerasinghe Meegahawattage, Ella McCauley and Kaviya Vignarajah placed third in the Senior High School category of the second International Youth Microorganism Innovation Experiment Competition – GLC-Pasteur Cup. The global science competition is organised by the Education Bureau of Xuhui District, Shanghai, and the Pasteur Institute of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the GLC International Group. RGS Head of Science Dr Nikki Kelly said the competition looked at the scientific knowledge of microbiology and the impact on human life. It aims to improve young students’ cognition of the microbial world, cultivate the skills of scientific experiment and the spirit of scientific inquiry, and form the concept of active exploration. Students competed alongside 300 students from Australia, China, Finland, and France. “The competition involves students training with research scientists from China before selecting a topic around the life of the microorganism,’’ Dr Kelly said. “They must carry out a literature review, before designing an investigation, then experimenting and carrying out data analysis. The task must be wholly designed by the students, and reflect their ability to find, analyse and solve problems.” Sandee, Ella and Kaviya tested the response of different microbe species to a range of oil extracts from plants, including Australian natives such as eucalyptus, tea tree and lemon myrtle.

Aust Schoolboys honour

RGS Year 12 student Spencer Smallacombe was selected in the Australia A schoolboys rugby union merit team in September. The team was selected based on games played throughout the 2021 season. Read about more RGS sporting achievements on pages 16 and 17.

RUOK?

RGS staff and students asked the question; Are they really OK? Ask them today. The School’s RUOK? Committee produced some tasty baked treats and also wanted to spread a little cheer to promote the impact that positive thoughts and random acts of kindness can have on the mental health of others, with students encouraged to write a kind note to another person in the school.