2015
High School Events
Flinders University
Faculty of Science
In 2015, the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Flinders University are delighted to introduce a number of new and exciting events and initiatives based around a key theme each term. The program will provide high school students with the opportunity to explore the different fields of science through interactive events and hands-on workshops.
Let us come to
you!
Flinders staff maybe able to
visit your classroom or attend
information evenings at your
school to talk about our course
options and all things science
and engineering (suitable for
years 11 & 12 and subject to
staff availability).
Don’t forget the
parents!
Parents play a vital role in
encouraging students to follow
their passion for science and
mathematics studies.
We are hosting two Parent
Information Evenings here at
Flinders, to provide parents with
information they need to help
their students through year 12
and assist them with applying
to university.
We also offer a range of engaging and interactive events and workshops for high school groups. The program aims to get students excited about science and mathematics, while providing opportunities for students to experience interactive learning in a university setting.
We offer a range of activities in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, engineering,
information technology, computer science and mathematics; as well as careers and pathways presentations.
The following themes have been set for 2015: Term 1: Building sustainable futures Term 2: Every day science
Term 3: Making waves through science Term 4: From mini to mega
Save the Date – Teacher Professional Development Event Series
Term 1: Wednesday 4 March –Building Sustainable Futures
Researchers will cover areas including economically and environmentally sustainable engineering, design and technology innovation, biotechnology research into investigating DNA, pests and herbicides, and our environmental future and what we can do to protect the world around us. We will also launch our fun competition for schools to take part in throughout the year!
Term 3: Wednesday 29 July – Making Waves Through Science
Hear about exciting developments in a range of ‘wave’ related fields, light, sound and even water! From shark behaviour and our Lincoln Maritime Science Centre, to harnessing blue-green algae to produce energy and even using lasers to work out what a material is from many metres away – think safer explosives detection!
Term 2: Wednesday 6 May – Everyday Science
With a hands-on focus, we will present a number of activities that you can take back to the classroom. Hear how IT and Digital Media impact our lives and how games can increase people’s independence and wellbeing, learn about GIS and how we can use it to map, understand and improve the world around us. This session places particular emphasis on the science and technology we experience on a daily basis, and experiments that can be done using easily accessible materials.
Term 4: Wednesday 21 October – From Mini to Mega
From the science of the very tiny to the construction of the very large, and everything in between! We will explore state of the art research and discoveries in areas such as nanotechnology, civil engineering and naval architecture. We will also cover key issues facing Year 12s at this time of year, including pathways for getting into a range of University courses. Finally, we will reveal the final piece of the puzzle for our schools competition!
As part of our ongoing commitment to high school science and related discipline teachers, we are pleased to announce in 2015 we will be offering a series of Professional Development Evenings. Each term, the professional development event will focus on information and workshops based around a central theme. Details are subject to change. In Term 1 we will launch our ‘Mini to Mega’
competition. Inspired by Rube Goldberg
machines, each team will aim to build a contraption that starts very small and delivers the biggest possible end result! Hear more at our Term 1 Teacher PD Evening. Details will be released online following the event so everyone can be involved!
To register your interest in Teacher Professional Development events, please email: [email protected]
Our professional development events will be held:
Term 1 Building Sustainable Futures
11 March Parent Information Evening
For parents and year 11 & 12 students
The night is designed to provide parents and families with helpful, practical tips on supporting students in years 11, and 12 with a particular focus on providing support across the areas of science and maths.
26 March Building Sustainable Futures Day
For year 10 – 12 high school students
Students will have the opportunity to learn about areas including sustainable engineering, design and technology innovation, research into DNA, pests and herbicides, and our environmental future and what we can do to protect the world around us.
31 March Design and Innovation Day
For year 11 and 12 high school students
Feeling creative? Want to get hands-on? Experience 3D printing, laser cutting and more in this new technology-focussed event. Engage with experienced industry professionals, University staff and students, and see where studies in design and technology innovation can take you! Limited places available so get in quickly.
Term 2 – Every Day Science
28 May Design your Dreams: Innovation Challenge Day
For year 10 high school students
This free event will provide students with an opportunity to participate in the inaugural Design and Innovation Challenge, engage with industry representatives, University staff and students, and discover where studies in design and technology innovation can lead.
23 June Inspiring Women in Engineering and IT
For year 10,11 & 12 female students
Growing every year, this free event offers female students the opportunity to engage with academic and admissions staff, current tertiary students and industry professionals to gain an understanding of what technology-focussed careers involve. Attendees take part in a fun, team-based engineering challenge testing their problem solving skills and extending their understanding of engineering principles.
26, 30 June
and 2 July Chemical Murder Mystery
For year 10 students
This extremely popular event introduces students to the real world of Forensic Crime Scene Investigation. The day encompasses hands on forensic science workshops, problem solving activities and presentations with the aim to engage student interest in science and secondly, to have fun!! Cost: $15 per student, includes catered lunch
Term 3 – Making Waves Through Science
22 & 23
July Science & Engineering ChallengeHigh school students A fun hands-on school science competition held each year at various locations around Australia. In 2015, Flinders will host schools on campus for 2 days of the challenge. Bookings are made through Ruth Conroy (South Australian Challenge Coordinator) email [email protected].
7 - 9
August Science Alive!Friday: high school students
Saturday & Sunday: open to the general public
Come and visit the Flinders stand at Australia’s largest science expo event with spectacular science, animal and magic shows and a huge range of hands-on fun for all ages.
Held at Adelaide Showgrounds.
August
TBC Flinders University Open DaysAll welcome For two days our campus life is on display and staff and students are available to discuss courses, careers and student support. Science & Engineering tours and presentations will be available.
17 - 21
August National Science Week Public Lecture Series
All welcome
The Faculty of Science and Engineering invites you to come and hear how Flinders is making waves in the world of science with our public lecture series throughout Science Week! Researchers from Flinders will present some of their latest research in science and engineering, covering areas such as sustainability and health. Keep an eye on our website for more details on speakers closer to the event.
10
September Parent Information EveningParents/caregivers and year 12 students
considering science, IT or engineering degrees at Flinders University
Guest speakers will take you through course and career options and pathways for applying for a university place at Flinders University, and assistance when selecting SATAC preferences.
16
September Making Waves Through Science DayFor year 10 & 11 high school students Join us for a day filled with ‘waves’ in science! Light, sound, and even water waves! Hear from University researchers and get hands-on in the lab. From lasers, electronics and robotic sensors, to marine biology and aquaculture, see how waves impact the world around us!
Term 4 – From Mini to Mega
1 - 3
December The Science ExperienceYear 9 &10 high school students
interested in science.
Flinders University welcomes ConocoPhillips Science Experience students to three days of interactive activities on campus. Get hands-on in our labs!
Bookings made through
December
TBC Change of Preference Information Sessions
For current year 12 students and their parents/care givers
Come and meet our current students, staff and other students who have applied to study science or engineering at Flinders. This event will give you the opportunity to have all of your questions answered about our courses, find out what it’s like being a Flinders student and get advice on your preferences.
The 2015 School Workshop Program offers an enhanced learning experience for senior high school students. With direct links to the
SACE curriculum, our series of workshops aims to extend and complement your teaching resources. Full descriptions of all
workshops and booking form can be found on our website flinders.edu.au/science_
engineering/hs_community.cfm.
Workshop Description Suitable for
* A Circuit of Circuits In this hands-on workshop, students explore a range of fundamental electronics concepts by working in teams to construct a variety of small circuits. Topics introduced include series vs. parallel circuits, logic gates, graphite and resistance.
Years 11 & 12 *Animal Adaptations This workshop includes hands on activities which encourage students to observe animals in their
natural environment and analyse what adaptations allow them to survive and be competitive. Years 10/11/12 *Serious Games App
Development ‘Serious Gaming’ is an area of research that looks at how we can harness the benefits of computer games for more serious purposes, such as education and health. Students use a primarily visual interface to develop their own Android app aimed at improving and maintaining users’ cognitive functioning, such as memory.
Years 10/11/12
*Biotechnology Students learn about enzymes in a “real world” context. Students experience a range of activities,
including the browning of red wine caused by fungal infections. Years 11 & 12 *Electromagnetism Students will investigate the world of electromagnetism and learn about how electricity is generated.
By the end of the workshop students will have the opportunity to build and test their own electric generator!
Years 11 & 12 Sound Through
Light Electronics Students investigate some properties of light and sound waves by building an electronic circuit that allows them to emit signals with an LED and receive those signals using a small solar panel. Students need to bring along a device for playing music that has a standard audio jack (e.g. mp3 player or smart phone).
Year 10/11/12
*Freshwater Workshop Students gain an understanding of freshwater systems and the importance of water quality monitoring for urban and environmental health. Students learn how to take and test biological samples in the field and in a wet lab using a combination of chemistry and biology techniques.
Years 11 & 12 *Geology Workshop Students will learn about igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary formations, how the shifting of
continents has impacted our climate & environment, and why geologists are so sought after in today’s natural resource sector.
Years 10/11/12 *Physics for Mechanical
Engineers Get into a real engineering lab and see what it’s like to be a Uni student! Complete an adapted version of one of our 2nd Year mechanical engineering practicals, covering an area selected from Newton’s Laws of Motion or Uniform Circular Motion.
Years 11/12 physics students only
Workshops
Workshop Description Suitable for
Analytical Chemistry Developed to help achieve, cement and extend knowledge of some of the analytical chemistry techniques explored in the SACE Stage 2 curriculum, Experiments include Chromatography and AAS.
Incurs a $10 per students cost. Please check website for dates.
Year 12 chemistry students only Cooling Gases Chemistry and Physics combine in a fascinating show about states of matter. Students are shown
some of the more exciting aspects of this using liquid nitrogen Years 10 & 11 Flii Construction and Follow-up
Programming A microcontroller is a complete computer on a single chip. Students solder components together to construct their very own microcontroller based electronic game to take home. Follow up workshops where students learn how to program new features for their device are available and recommended.
Years 11 & 12 Forensic Biology Have you ever seen a ‘CSI’ type show when scientists take a swab, put it in a machine and our pops the
DNA results? Students have the opportunity to run a gel electrophoresis while learning about how forensic biologists use DNA to identify victims and suspects.
Years 11 & 12 LEGO Robotics In this hands-on workshop, students learn principles of robot navigation, sensor use and
programming using NXT Mindstorms Lego robots to solve a variety of challenges. If your students have worked with these robots before, we have advanced workshops available on request.
Years 10/11/12 Marine Biology Students will get the opportunity to identify and discover various invertebrates, and consider aspects
such as how their body plan suits their function. Years 10/11/12 Microbiology There is a suspected outbreak of Golden Staph bacteria in a local hospital! Students identify the
bacteria by running a range of laboratory tests. Includes Gram staining and Catalase testing. Years 10/11/12 Nanotechnology The science of the very tiny is often underestimated or unheard of, yet this career path can lead and
has led to some of the greatest discoveries of our century. Students will learn what it is, what it can do and how to get there with a combination of hands-on experiments and demonstrations.
Years 10/11/12 Pendulums A study of pendulum motion, this workshop involves experimental design, recording, graphing and
manipulating data sets and analysing results. The students are treated as a University level lab group and get a taste of University life.
Year 12 physics students only Video Game Development Learn the about the software engineering lifecycle and the basics of building a 3D video game using
the Kodu visual programming interface. Students create their own version of the classic game ‘Space Invaders’.
Years 10 & 11
In addition to workshops, we are also able to offer your students a 30 minute presentation on one of the following subjects: Everyday Mathematics Research Project Survival Skills Nanotechnology
For further information: P: (08) 7221 8661 or 1800 803 131
Workshop booking form: E: [email protected]
flinders.edu.au/se
inspiring achievement
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