‘Cool Science’
Years 1, 2 and 3 - Term 1, 2017
Fee $99.00
Did you know that there are as many atoms in a single molecule of your DNA as there are stars in the typical galaxy and that
this makes each of us a little universe; or that ninety percent of your body mass is stardust because all the elements except
for hydrogen and helium are created by stars? How cool is that? In fact, as astronomer Phil Plait put it, “not everything that’s
cool is science, but everything about science is cool.” In this Eureka program, we will explore some particularly ‘cool’ topics,
from amazing aspects of nature, the science of temperature, and thermodynamics to the incredible tenacity of some lifeforms to survive, even in the most extreme conditions. The workshops will challenge, as well as enrich budding young
scientists’ learning adventure, and confirm that indeed science is really ‘cool’!
‘Life on the Ice’ with Tim Byrne
Did you know that a polar bear can live in a world made entirely of ice, surrounded by freezing seas? Do you know how the
emperor penguin survives up to -50 C in the dark of an Antarctic winter? Why is size and shape so important? How do fur and
feathers insulate these animals from the cold? What are some of the clever behaviours they use to stay warm? This
workshop sets out to investigate the effect of cold on living creatures like musk ox, seals and whales. Not all animals can live
in cold places but one tiny creature, the tardigrade, can even survive being snap frozen in liquid nitrogen! After thawing out,
it slowly searches its mossy home for tiny bits of food! We’ll discover that we can learn a lot from studying the way that
animals survive the cold and this information can have many applications. Be prepared to conduct an ice activity; handle the
hair of a musk ox, bird down and even search for a tardigrade in this cool workshop!
Tim has never been to Antarctica but was once trapped for half a day in a blizzard near Mt Kosciusko. No photographs, just
memories of being scared and very cold. After many treks in the Himalayas, he has become very interested in knowing the
best defence against the cold. This workshop has challenged him to think outside the icebox.
‘Brrr…It’s Chilly!’ with Emma Carter
Is your fridge magic? How does your refrigerator work? How does it make things cold and make food last longer? Find out
about how your fridge takes the heat out of food and what happens to that heat. Your fridge contains pumps and lots of
pipes, but what are they all for? Join us as we investigate what heat is, how pressure can affect temperature and how liquids
can turn into gasses… and then back into liquids! This workshop is full of hands-on activities to help you see, feel and
understand the physics that makes your fridge so cool! Please note that students will be handling latex balloons in this
workshop.
Emma has Bachelor Degrees in Science and Engineering, with majors in Physics and Electrical Engineering from the University
of Melbourne. She has taught secondary school maths, science and physics, and has worked at Scienceworks as well as the
Discovery Science and Technology Museum where she was an outreach education officer. Emma now enjoys presenting
science workshops for G.A.T.E.WAYS.
‘Cool Critters’ with Adele Costello
Fireflies, glow worms and amazing algae set the scene for some lightbulb moments and glowing discoveries in this cool
workshop. We will explore the world of bioluminescence, chemiluminescence and phosphorescence. What makes a glow
stick glow and how does a firefly emit beautiful light? Did you know that in order to glow, atoms need to be excited? How do
some creatures produce a luminous light show, and can we reproduce this using chemical formulas? Join us for some handson exploration of different types of light and the ways they can be produced. Crack out the glow sticks and fire up your
scientific mind because this workshop is going to be seriously cool!
Adele loves to experiment and get her hands dirty. A seasoned presenter with G.A.T.E.WAYS, she has a sound base in the
application of curriculum, thinking skills and Gifted Education, and works extensively with both primary students and
teachers in these areas. Her passion for watching students make new and exciting discoveries encourages her to constantly
create new G.A.T.E. WAYS programs.