Science Week 2024
The theme for 2024 Science Week (10-18 August) is Species Survival - More than just Sustainability. To celebrate Science week, St Paul's students will be taking part in several activities next week, such as exploring exciting innovations including the work of Dr Jodi Rowley, a marine biologist who is using drones to capture Whale Snot. Students in Year 7 and 8 will perform some health checks on synthetic 'whale snot', testing the pH, Glucose and Protein content and compare their results to what is considered a normal range for these parameters in whales. This task will highlight the role that technology and innovation can play in wildlife conservation.
Year 7 students will be dissecting owl pellets which the College has sourced from the Leigh Valley Hawk and Owl Sanctuary as part of their work on Threatened Species. The students will be able to study what owls eat by identifying the type and species of bones found in the pellets and use an identification chart to help them. Owls and other birds of prey are currently facing a serious threat posed by second generation rodenticides that can be found in poisoned rodents that they eat. These toxins accumulate in the bird's liver and eventually cause death. In July, a delegation of leading environmental scientists marched on Parliament House in Canberra to demand stronger restrictions on the sale and use of toxic rodent baits used in Australia - the full article (Dead owls are piling up in my freezer: Perth scientists take a stand) can be read here. Students will explore solutions to this problem, such as the use of alternative products and to consider that many of the harmful products have been banned in other countries to protect raptors.
Students will also experience a livestream of a dramatic performance which captures key scientific facts about ocean conservation using a comedy theatre approach which highlights the use of innovation to protect our oceans. Students will have an opportunity to participate in a Q & A session from the Marine Team by Perform Education.
Other year groups will be completing an Escape room, solving problems and physical challenges to highlight conservation.
Ms Rayleigh Keith - Leader of Science