Preparing for the Future
Science education at Ruyton Girls' School enables students to pose questions and seek answers about human and animal behaviour and the physical and biological world, and to understand the application of Science and the way scientists work. The students are encouraged to be aware and make decisions about scientific issues, further study and career choices.
The Science curriculum at Ruyton provides opportunities for students to:
• Investigate a diverse range of areas of Science
• Foster enjoyment and excitement about Science
• Develop scientific knowledge and skills
• Apply knowledge to predict and explain observations of human and animal behaviour, and in the physical and biological world
• Develop an understanding of the techniques of scientific investigation
• Communicate using appropriate scientific language
• Investigate the contributions made by both women and men to Science
• Explore current scientific issues
• Develop an understanding of the ethical implications of advances in Science
• Prepare for study of Science at VCE level and beyond
Curriculum Initiatives and Links with the Community
The Science curriculum is constantly evolving in order to ensure that it remains diverse, innovative, current and relevant in terms of content and the way in which students learn. Much of this must be credited to the creativity and commitment of the Science staff, who are always looking for new ways to engage and excite the girls. Enabling the students to experience first hand the work that scientists are currently doing allows the students to see the relevance of what they are learning in the classroom and is a most powerful tool in maintaining student engagement and fostering passion for science.
In 2009 the Year 12 Biology students were fortunate to be visited by Associate Professor Susie Nilsson, who is currently head of the Niche Laboratory at the Australian Stem Cell Centre. Professor Nilsson was able to share her knowledge on stem cell research and current practices. She was also able to provide insight into how she has been able to balance a research career with raising a young family. A visit to the Cunningham Dax gallery provided an opportunity for Psychology students to further their understanding of and empathy for people who experience mental illness and psychological trauma, and to appreciate their creativity through viewing original art work. The Year 10 Ethics program has been established for a number of years and we are very fortunate to continue to work with Dr Donna Cohen, Biologist and Ethicist, who is an invaluable resource and mentor to our students as they investigate and prepare drama performances to depict the ethical dilemmas so often faced by scientists and those effected by their work. ‘Energy Without CO2’, a presentation of ways that the energy required for transport, cooking and heating could be produced without generating carbon dioxide, was presented to Year 8 students by educators from the CSIRO.
Science Week 2009
The theme for Science Week in 2009 was Astronomy: Science Without Limits. All students in Year 7 to 10 designed and constructed a ‘paper space shuttle’, with a final taking place on the oval at the end of Science Week. As part of Science Week this year we were also delighted to welcome Associate Professor Tom Kotsimbos to Senior School Assembly. Professor Kotsimbos is Deputy Director of the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Service at the Alfred Hospital, Deputy Medical Director of the Lung Transplant Program at the Alfred Hospital and was recently appointed Chairman of the H1N1 ‘Swine Flu’ Task Force. Professor Kotsimbos spoke to the Senior School about his work in organ transplantation, and also discussed the value of scientific thinking and the contribution that it makes to society and medicine.
Out in the Field
The Waterwatch programme enables students to collect first hand data about water quality and contribute this to Waterwatch Victoria’s ongoing monitoring of river health. Year 10 students investigated the health of the Yarra River in Kew while Year 11 Chemistry students spent a full day at various locations along Gardiners Creek, learning about sustainable water issues and management. Over the past year Ruyton has been privileged to be involved in development and piloting of an innovative program in conjunction with Melbourne Zoo. Year 7 students visit the zoo and investigate the impact of Palm Oil production on Orang-utan populations, and the effects of mining for mobile phone materials on Gorilla populations. This program is now offered to other schools by the Zoo Education Centre.
A visit to the Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff enabled Year 11 Biology students to study marine ecosystems and apply much of their knowledge gained in Unit 2 to analyse and describe interactions between organisms and their environment. The Year 8 camp to Queenscliff also incorporated a number of sessions at the Marine Discovery Centre and linked to the work on Ecology undertaken in Science classes prior to the camp. Year 12 Biology students visited the department of Genetics at Melbourne University, where they investigated genetic inheritance in Drosophila melanogaster (flies) and analysed DNA using gel electrophoresis.
Enrichment Opportunities
Ruyton students always embrace the numerous opportunities to participate in Science enrichment activities, and this year has been no exception. In Term 1 Psychology students competed in the Australian Brain Bee Challenge, with a team of four students: Georgia Noonan, Isabella Weeding-Hill, Elizabeth Willis and Katarina Subic, progressing to the State Final. The Big Science Competition is a challenging written examination which is offered to all students in Years 7 to 12, and despite being held on a cold Friday afternoon in May, 47 students, representing all year levels, elected to compete. The results of this competition were outstanding. Four students from Year 9 have been accepted into the Siemens Science Experience and have had their applications sponsored by Balwyn Rotary Club. These students will attend 3 day programmes at Universities in Melbourne and Regional Victoria in the coming holidays to participate in workshops, practical activities and lectures from prominent Australian science researchers.