Science
Engineering Bridge Building Competition
On Tuesday 7 August our Redlands team of Yr 8 students – Jacob Gold, Kyle Banfield, Charlie Baskerville and Remy Wilson competed against 60 other teams from all over NSW for this year’s Aurecon Bridge Building competition at the Art Gallery of NSW. The aim was to design and build a bridge to span a 700mm gap using only balsa wood, a cardboard tube and PVA glue.
Our bridge weighed just over 100 grams and surprisingly supported 20.2kg before it twisted and snapped. Whilst the strongest bridge carried 44.7 kg, most bridges carried less than 10kg. In addition, teams entered the Best Digital Bridge Design using software called Sketch-up. Congratulations goes to the Redlands team who, for the second successive year, won first place for our digital design.
Science Week
The week started with one of our Science teachers, Simone Bryant, and our Laboratory Manager, Annabel Isaacs, making liquid nitrogen icecream for Secondary teachers. The -190oC liquid nitrogen, when removed from its flask, evaporates rapidly at room temperature. This is used to chill quickly a creamy custard mixture being beaten. The result is a smooth creamy vanilla icecream.
Yr 10 were privileged to hear from one of our parent Scientists Dr Kylie De Boer talking about being curious and asking questions which have directed her pathway and success working in the field of Reproduction technologies.
On Tuesday lunchtime an Oobleck pool appeared in Liggins Quad. Students and staff were curious but after a demonstration from Ms Apple showing that ‘you can walk on a liquid’ they lined up to give it a go. The Oobleck is made from cornstarch and water and is called a non-newtonian fluid as it does not follow the normal viscosity rules of liquids. Place your hand gently on it and it will sink into it but add pressure, such as a slap or run over it, and it behaves like a solid.
Breakfast with a Scientist
This morning six Redlands parents, who work in a variety of Science fields, spoke to an enthusiastic group of students about a career in their chosen specialty and the best bits about their job. We heard from Professor Ian Kerridge about Haematology and how studying cells is developing a new way to treat cancer, Dr Melanie Zeppel on how she ended up as a specialist data analyst in genomic medicine, Environmental Scientist Susan Calvert whose career involved conserving the Green and Golden Bell frog during the Sydney Olympic Games construction, Duncan MacDonald whose interests in Science led him from Zoology to Geology with a passion for finding what is inside the rocks that make up the Earth, Jay Cunningham about the range of opportunities in the field of Physiotherapy, and Peter Bailey and his colleague Jane enthralling us with the amazing and creative buildings designed and built by engineers. All of the scientists spoke about being curious, using problem solving skills and working to make others life better. Thank you to all involved.
Ms Sarah Harrisson
Head of Science
sharrisson@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9833