Science Week
In the spirit of National Science Week, Wenona hosted a series of engaging Science-focused activities and events aimed at invigorating the study of science and inspiring girls to consider its diverse career opportunities.
National Science Week is Australia's celebration of science and technology. Across the country, over a thousand events are organised by various institutions, attracting a diverse audience from children to adults and amateurs to professionals. Over one million people participate in these science events.
The Wenona Science Department strives to bring science to life beyond the classroom. This year, they invited several guest speakers to share their knowledge and experiences during Science classes and lunch sessions. They also held numerous School competitions to promote active participation.
"Dr Kelsi Dadd, a geologist, worked with students in the classroom, assisting them to identify rocks and sort through our collection," said Head of Science, Ms Sandra Woodward. "She explained the formation and classification of different rocks, and to our surprise, we discovered a few fossils as well! Dr Kelsi also shared her journey to becoming a geologist and her current work with the Curious Minds program, where she helps underprivileged students."
Mr Chris Jackson, a Bird Keeper at Taronga Zoo, engaged students in a virtual discussion about his role and responsibilities. He shared insights about training birds, his journey into zookeeping, and the daily life of a zookeeper.
Dr May Gade Pedersen from the University of Sydney introduced the students to the fascinating world of astronomy and the relatively new field of asteroseismology. She demonstrated how the intensity of light received from stars can reveal valuable information about them.
Associate Professor, Alice Motion, a chemist and science communicator from the University of Sydney, discussed the importance of chemistry. She connected the dots between science and various fields, such as music, art, and textiles, emphasising that science is a shared knowledge, crucial to all subject areas.
An exciting presentation was also given by Mr Mark Roe, the CEO of Fusetec, an advanced manufacturing company that designs anatomically accurate surgical training models. Mark, an entrepreneur with no medical background, shared his journey of identifying and addressing issues in healthcare through his innovative company.
A trivia competition wrapped up the fun, testing the scientific knowledge of both students and teachers. Organised by Mali and Jemima from Year 11, the competition added a fun and competitive element to the week, with participants battling for bragging rights and lollies.