Science ______________________________________Page

from Virtus Yearbook 2014

Brennan Houghton ____________________________Page

SCIENCE & ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

Earlier this year, the Year 10 students were presented with the opportunity to compete in the annual Geelong District Science and Engineering Challenge. Thirty students attended the event and competed against several other schools. The day consisted of several activities revolving around the domain of science, ranging from attempting to supply electricity to a city in the cheapest way possible, to creating a remote controlled hover-craft capable of overcoming obstacles. Fortunately, we placed first overall, and the following term we headed off to Warrnambool to try our luck in the State Championships. Unfortunately, even placing first in the bridge building activity, having created the lightest bridge capable of withstanding the most weight was not enough for us to leave with a win, placing third overall. Nevertheless, we thoroughly enjoyed both competitions and I would encourage all future Year 10 students with a love for science to sign up as soon as news about the event arises.

- Rhys Hegyesi FUTURE SPARK GENERATORS

On 27 May, there was great excitement at Westcourt, as four new “Future Spark” generators arrived. Gary from Future Spark, assisted students from Mrs O’Connell’s class in setting up the bikes. These bikes are designed to create electricity as the bike is pedalled. Students from the Biology on the Move class were keen to test the bikes out and immediately gained a better appreciation of how much energy is required to create electricity as they consequently powered a fan to cool themselves down as they pedalled!!!

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK

The school’s theme for National Science week 2014 was ‘Food for our future: Science feeding the world’. The theme was inspired by the United Nations international year for family farming. The science of food production is one of Australia’s most important fields of research. Food production and agriculture in Australia is a modern, state-of-the-art sector of the Australian economy and is a very appropriate theme in schools. St Joseph’s College celebrated this theme at the Newtown Campus on 21 August. A team of staff and students organizing the event chose to address this theme looking at sustainable food choices and genetically modified food. To start the day a genetically modified food associate lecturer presented to three VCE biology and two environmental science classes on gene modification in foods and the future of these technologies. At lunchtime the quadrangle was a mad rush with students taste testing free BBQ kangaroo and crocodile slices, whitchetty grub lollies, bush food spices/condiments, meal worms and crickets. There was a very busy shop selling creepy creature candy, choc coated bugs and self-heating hot chocolate, latte and soups. A large group of students participated in an insect stir-fry demonstration, learning to cook insects and taste them in a few meals. A radio show run by a group of Year 11 students outside the PAC played a compilation of famous science songs. Finally, a number of students registered to compete in an insect eating competition. This menu included uncooked mealworms, crickets, small and giant scorpions. Ashley Gillespie in Year 11 was the winner; managing to eat the final giant scorpion the fastest.