STATIC
The Newsletter of the Science Teachers Association of Tasmania.
Science Week: Drones,
Droids & Robots
August 2016, Volume 3
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
STAT Council Members
President
ASTA Council Representative
Rosemary Anderson
New Norfolk High school
[email protected]
Ph: 0408 267 267
Postal and email Address:
STAT
PO BOX 1112
Sandy Bay TAS 7006
[email protected]
Vice President
Jenny Dudgeon
[email protected]
M: 0438 283 872
Treasurer and ASTA councillor
Jill Reade
[email protected]
Minute Secretary
Darrin Timms
East Launceston Primary School
[email protected]
Membership Officer
Sonya Matthews
Prospect High School
[email protected]
CONASTA 2017 Convenor
Denise Devitt
[email protected]
Awards Officer
Ann Burke
Hellyer College
[email protected]
STATIC Editor
Joee Kelk
Riverside Primary School/UTAS
[email protected]
Website Manager
Ineke McGuire
Guildford Young College
[email protected]
Professional Learning Committee Chair
John Bardenhagen
East Launceston Primary
[email protected]
University of Tasmania Faculty of Science
Engineering & Technology Representative
Jeannie-Marie LeRoi
[email protected]
National Science Week Committee
Representative
Jennifer Crowden
St Marys College
[email protected]
General Councillor
Aimee Woodward
Fahan School
[email protected]
Professional Learning/TSTS Co-ordinator
Marj Colvill
M: 0438 312 905
[email protected]
General Councillor
Bruce Duncan
University of Tasmania
[email protected]
STAT Activities are managed by a small group of volunteers who are happy to provide
further information. If you would like to become involved with this dedicated and
professional support group of teachers then let us know. Every science educator in the state
is most welcome and science needs you!
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Contents
This is an interactive Contents page – click the page number to go straight there!
STAT COUNCIL MEMBERS
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CONTENTS
3
GUESS THE SCIENCE!
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TO INFINITY AND BEYOND! OR AT LEAST TO 2017
4
NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK IN TASMANIA
5
OCEAN LITERACY, AUVS AND ROVS IN THE USA
6
YOUNG TASSIE SCIENTISTS
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BE A WILDLIFE SPOTTER – NATIONAL CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
9
RISE OF THE DRONES - DEMONSTRATION
10
FULL STEAM AHEAD AT UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA COLLABLAB FOR NATIONAL SCIENCE
WEEK
11
ROBOTS OF THE USA – A DOE STEM TOUR
12
TASMANIAN SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH – 2016
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TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGES – JUDGING DETAILS
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SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING CHALLENGE STATE SERIES
14
DOWNLOADABLE ROBOT RESOURCE BOOKLET
15
CONASTA 65 – BRISBANE - WERE YOU THERE?
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CONASTA 2017 – UPDATE
18
STAT PROFESSIONAL LEARNING CALENDAR
19
THE ISLANDS IN SCHOOLS PROJECT
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___________________________________________________________________________
Guess the Science!
Can you guess which science each of these three Young Tassie Scientists love studying?
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
To Infinity and Beyond! Or at least to 2017
Thanks to everyone who has submitted for such a bumper
edition of STATIC. The Science Week: Drones, Droids and
Robots theme has proved quite popular and we have a
spread of interesting articles. Hear from the lucky science
education team who have been touring the USA looking at
great STEM initiatives in museums and universities. Get the
low down on the engineering challenge and this year’s crop
of Young Tassie Scientists, as well as a heads-up on the local
Science Week happenings – check online for the full
program. To top it all off, catch up on what happened at
Reflecting– Joee ponders
CONASTA, and start thinking about attending next year’s
optics at Dark Mofo 2016.
national conference in Hobart!
For the last STATIC of the year we want to think Beyond 2016 – it feels like it’s been a rough
year around the world and it is time to think about the future. So lets think futuristic, from
revolutionary new ways of teaching to a review of the digital microscope you’re buying for
your 2017 class. If you know of events upcoming in 2017 (or beyond) let us know about
them. And above all else remember, STATIC is made by you and teachers like you.
Joee Kelk
STATIC Editor.
Edition 4 – Beyond 2016
The next STATIC will be released in early November
2016 and will look to the future of science and science
teaching in Tasmania – 2017 and beyond!
Looking for short articles (100-400 words) on:
 events planned or scheduled for 2017
 ideas about future teaching methods,
technologies, resources, collaborations, citizen
science projects, astronomical events
 student stories about their future science
plans?
 anything else of interest to the science teachers
of Tasmania
Step into the future…
COPY DEADLINE:
Send in your piece by 10 October 2016.
Get Social with STAT!
STAT is on social media and we’d love members to
join us there to help strengthen our online network.
STAT Facebook group.
STAT Twitter account.
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
National Science Week in Tasmania
While National Science Week officially runs between 13-21
August Australia-wide, in Tasmania we have to call it
Science Month! With over 100 events to choose from
including three big festivals, there is genuinely something
for everyone. In the South, the Festival of Bright Ideas
(13 August) will dazzle Hobart’s waterfront with spectacular
science shows, workshops, talks and more.
On the West Coast, the curious can attend the Bright Ideas:
Innovation & Opportunity in Western Tasmania Festival
(4-7 August) while TAStroFest returns to the North-West,
investigating the secrets among the stars (12-14 August).
It's Science Open Season at the Queen Victoria Museum and
Art Gallery (QVMAG) in Launceston with events for the entire
family. Explore prehistoric Australia or 'journey' to the deep
sea with robots who dive!
State-wide, there are events at museums, art galleries, cafes,
farms, and even pubs, most of them totally free! National
Science Week is for all Australians: artists, corporate execs,
families, students, librarians, tradies, retirees, you name it! If
you’ve ever wondered how something works, there’s an
event to suit you.
For more information and event listings, please
visit scienceweek.net.au or download the free National
Science Week app, available for Android and Apple devices.
You can also grab the free printed program in The Mercury
newspaper on Saturday 30 July.
Video: QVMAG’s dalek is on
the loose getting ready for
Science Week.
Jenni Klaus
National Science Week in Tasmania
twitter.com/sciencetasmania
Amy Shira Teitel –
Astro-historian at FOBI.
facebook.com/natsciwktas/
Bright Ideas: Innovation
and Opportunity program.
Dr Jules Harnett - Astrophysicist
at Tastrofest and speaking in
Hobart.
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Ocean Literacy, AUVs and ROVs in the USA
When you really think about it, the Earth has only one big ocean, with many features. This
ocean, and the life in it, shape the features of Earth. It’s a major influence on our weather
and climate; it makes the Earth habitable; it supports a great diversity of life and
ecosystems; the ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected, and yet the ocean is
largely unexplored.
Despite the obvious importance of the ocean, if you
search through the Australian Curriculum F-10
Science for the words “sea”, “marine” or “ocean” you
won’t find anything! Think about that for a moment.
Australia is an island. Then think about Tasmania,
where nearly a quarter of the population engages in
some form of recreational fishing activity and where
the coastline is only an hour away for most people.
It turns out that Australia is not alone for having a
curriculum that ignores a habitat that covers over
70% of the planet. To address this shortfall a simple
framework of seven key learning points called Ocean
Literacy was developed in the USA and is currently
spreading to Europe and Asia. This movement aims to
ensure that every student in the world learns about
the ocean, understands their influence and impact on
Download: Ocean Literacy: The
the ocean and the ocean's influence and impact on
Essential Principles of Ocean
them. In fact, the first paragraph to this article was
Sciences for Learners of All Ages
the Ocean Literacy framework.
As I write this I am currently in the USA on a Department of Education Hardie Fellowship
conducting an inquiry that includes examining Ocean Literacy and ways in which Australian
teachers can link it to our curriculum. Along with Jenny Dudgeon (Sustainability Learning
Centre Hobart College) and Chloe Simons (DoE Professional Learning Institute) our team is
looking for, in particular, new opportunities to leverage digital technology in our DoE science
centres. From a marine technology aspect, this is where ROVs (Remotely Operated
underwater Vehicle) and AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) come in.
Above – Video: get an ROV view of Woodbridge
student testing.
Left – Woodbridge students soldering and printing
in preparation for testing their ROV.
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
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The seventh ocean literacy principle is “the ocean is largely unexplored”. Robotics is making
this task easier for ocean scientists and, with electronic miniaturisation and cost reductions,
this technology is becoming accessible to school students. With seed funding from the DoE’s
eStrategy, and technical assistance from CSIRO’s Maciej Matuszak, Chloe and I recently
trialled the building ROVs with students based on the SeaPerch model.
We next want to look at the more complex, although more
expensive, but re-usable, SeaMate models that can include
the addition of Arduino or Rasberry Pi augmentation. In the
US, student-built ROV construction has become widespread
with national and even international competitions taking
place to challenge students and their machines, and earlier
this year a South Australian club travelled to the US to
compete. Wouldn’t it be great if we could have a Tasmanian
wide inter-high ROV challenge?
At the recent National Marine Educators Conference in
Orlando I found two exciting AUV programs as well.
“Educational Passages” involves a whole school approach (K- Woodbridge students testing
12) whereby students equip a small autonomous sailing boat the buoyancy of an ROV.
with a satellite-linked GPS, as well as any other technology
they can think of, then release it into the ocean and track its progress. Not only can students
graphically see the influence of weather and ocean currents on their AUV (ocean literacy
principle number three: the ocean is a major influence on weather and climate), there is also
the opportunity to make global connections with other students when the vessel eventually
makes landfall, especially if it is in another country. When this happens a nearby school in
that country can take ownership of the boat, refurbish and send it back out to sea, all in
collaboration with the original school via teleconferencing, email writing etc. Imagine the
possibilities!
In a similar vein, but on a more localised level and more for the high school sector, a small
AUV marine monitoring kit called SeaGlide moves by changing its buoyancy by taking in or
expelling water. This change in buoyancy causes the glider to rise or sink thus generating lift
with its fins and propelling the glider forward, all the while collecting abiotic data, just like
the real ocean gliders do. This can deployed in local waters and retrieved by the same
students at a later date to download the data.
ROVs and AUVs leverage all aspects of the 4Cs: critical thinking and problem solving,
effective communication, collaboration and team building and creativity and innovation.
They are also connecting both to the Maker and STEM movements. To quote one of our
recent ROV students “this isn’t classroom work, this is fun!”
By Andrew Walsh
Woodbridge School Marine Discovery Centre
You can follow our research in the US at
www.facebook.com/Woodbridge-School-MarineDiscovery-Centre-161551723996663 and
www.facebook.com/education.tas.gov.au/?fref=ts
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Young Tassie Scientists
The Young Tassie Scientists help engage and motivate students about science and science
careers – and also provide teachers with the opportunity to strengthen their knowledge of
current research. By providing dynamic and inspiring role models, engaging hands-on
activities, and information on educational opportunities and future careers, the YTS program
encourages younger people to continue their studies in science and to make connections
between studying science and resulting jobs and careers. Here’s a little snapshot from a few
of the group:
Nathan Chapman – Explosions, Radioactive
Decay, Laser Beams – PhD student in the
Centre for Excellence in Ore Deposits,
University of Tasmania. “I love my rocks, I love
having adventures and I love being able to help
understand how the Earth works. Geology is
such a great science because you can go where
ever you want an piece together the stories of
what happened right under your feet, millions
of years ago!"
Shasta Claire – In love with Insects - Entomologist
“I absolutely love insects, and I always have. They are beautiful, with their shiny carapaces
and bright wing patterns. I love them because they are tiny but complete, working organisms
– it’s like holding a galaxy the size of a marble in your hand.”
Stephanie Sykora – Exploring the Earth. Geologist & PhD student, Centre for Excellence in
Ore Deposits, University of Tasmania.
“The earth is beautiful and fascinating. From the rocks below to the mountains above, there
is so much to learn and understand about the natural world around us.”
Dr Amy Edwards - Zoologist and Animal
Sexpert. Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, School
of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania.
"During my studies I have swum with dugongs
and turtles, seen endangered wallabies and
camped on islands; I’ve spent a year living with
250 Eastern grey kangaroos and travelled
through South Africa trapping ground-dwelling
mole rats and enjoying the safari life, and I have
worked in world-leading science laboratories!"
Renee Pepper – I like fear! Medical researcher and PhD student, Menzies Institute for
Medical Research, University of Tasmania
“Fear is a natural part of everybody’s life, it is an important survival mechanism that we have
in order to protect ourselves. Fear is what lets us know that we should be careful, that maybe
we shouldn’t play with that snake or muck around near the edge of a cliff. But what happens
when fear takes over our brain?”
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
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Ed Williams – Race Engineer. Masters student,
School of Engineering & ICT, University of
Tasmania.
“Having worked as a race engineer for Formula
Vee, Formula 4 and now GT86 series teams, I
hope to use my personal racing experience,
design skills and engineering experience to
make it into a race engineering position with a
V8 supercar, Formula 3 or perhaps even
Formula 1 team."
Amanda Sinclair – From Tassie Devils to
Climate Change to Antarctica. Masters
student, School of Biological Sciences,
University of Tasmania.
“For as long as I can remember, I have always
been happiest outside in the bush. Through
many bushwalking and camping adventures I
became fascinated by the complex and often
crazy ways in which plants and animals interact
with each other and their environment – a
scientific field called ecology”
Profiles of many of the Young Tassie Scientists can be downloaded and are a great way to
introduce students to the diversity of scientists in Tasmania.
Dr Adele Wilson
Schools Outreach Project Officer
Faculty of Science, Engineering & Technology, University of Tasmania
Be a Wildlife Spotter – National Citizen Science Project
Hosted by the ABC and National Science Week
Think you know a quoll from a bandicoot? Help out wildlife
researchers by spotting quolls, malleefowl, Tassie devils, cats and
many more animals captured in photos. This National Science Week,
we're looking for citizen scientists of all ages to identify animals in
roughly a million images taken all across Australia by automated
cameras. You just need an internet connect to get involved. By
helping monitor biodiversity, you could also win a fantastic digital
camera.
The Tasmanian Land Conservancy has provided thousands of images
as part of this project, giving the nation access to Tassie's incredibly
diverse fauna. After National Science Week, Wildlife Spotter data
will be incorporated into the Atlas of Living Australia!
1 August to 31 August
wildlifespotter.net.au
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Quoll invading the
bedroom on a Bruny
Island field camp.
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Rise of the Drones - Demonstration
2pm -3:30 pm
Saturday 20 August 2016
Above the Uni Ovals: Geography Building, Corner of Clarke Rd and
Grosvenor Crescent, University of Tasmania
Arko Lucieer, Associate Professor in Remote Sensing in the Surveying and Spatial Sciences
group at the University of Tasmania, will demonstrate and discuss the use of drones and
advanced sensors for aerial mapping and monitoring of the environment. Find out about the
wide range of real-world applications, in agriculture, landslides, vegetation mapping, terrain
analysis, erosion and Antarctic moss beds. See them up close, interact with their sensors,
and hear about their use and potential.
RSVP Bookings by 18 August:
[email protected] or text 0407684029
http://www.aaee.org.au
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Full STEAM ahead at University of Tasmania CollabLab
for National Science Week
As the uptake of STEM subjects powers ahead across the country, the University of Tasmania
has boldly evolved the well-known acronym to incorporate creative arts. STEAM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) subjects and technologies are forging pathways to
future careers fast, and this contemporary concept will compliment a number of exciting
events staged for National Science Week in Tasmania’s North-West, at the University’s
newest makers’ space, CollabLab.
Designed to inspire creative and collaborative thinking, CollabLab is a technology suite on
the upper level of Burnie’s Makers’ Workshop at the University’s West Park Precinct. It
presents visitors with a futuristic world of robotics, computer gaming, virtual realities and 3D
equipment.
Experts will lead a pop-up panel discussion and networking event coined “Raising STEAM” on
Thursday, 18 August from 4pm to help shine an inspirational light on the links between each
discipline to local educators, senior students and parents from the region.
Makers’ Workshop Coordinator Joanna Gair said the possibilities provided through CollabLab
were endless, and the space while small was dedicated to offering the community a starting
point to explore and experiment with STEAM technologies.
“This technology hub is a space for unrestricted learning for both teachers and students, as
well as a place where ideas can be shared and new skills forged, with a view to inspire clever
thinking and equip participants with knowledge that allows them to share STEAM at their
respective schools,” Ms Gair said.
In further keeping with this year’s National Science Week autonomous technology theme of
Drones, Droids and Robots, PhD candidates from the University’s HITLab (Human Interface
Technology) will facilitate live drone demonstrations high above Burnie’s coastline.
A “Lego Mindstorms” workshop will allow local teachers to see how lego fuses with robotics
in a way that harnesses innovative learning, while drop-in workshops at CollabLab hosted by
the North-West Makers and Innovators will provide insight and interactive opportunities
with robotics and advanced technologies, helping turn imagined ideas into reality.
Primary school children will showcase how they “Dream Big” at a Science Week themed
exhibition at the Makers’ Space Gallery, while other students will unveil their creative
interpretations of drones, droids, and robots at Devonport’s “Curiosity Headquarters
Makers’ Faire”.
The University of Tasmania National Science Week program will run August 13 – August 21.
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Robots of the USA – a DoE STEM Tour
STEM programs have been a major focus of our Department of Education, Science Centres
Hardie Fellowship US Study Program. Chloe Simons, Andrew Walsh and I have been
privileged to see much cutting edge technology. We've also been very fortunate to have the
opportunity to engage with many of the researchers involved. Our quest is to understand
more about STEM programs and the ways in which STEM thinking, innovation and research
can be used for good work in our world. STEM can address issues of human need such as
access to fresh water, supply efficient and affordable energy, equity of access to medical
technology such as prosthetics, affordable housing, monitoring and control of invasive
species and improve knowledge of human impacts on ecosystems.
At Stanford University's Robotics Lab we saw "Ocean One - a
bimanual underwater humanoid robot with haptic feedback
which allows human pilots the ability to explore the depths
of the ocean in high fidelity." Ocean One's maiden voyage
was to explore the wreck of La Lune, 100 metres below the
Mediterranean. La Lune was King Louis XIV's flagship and it
was sunk off the French coast in 1664. Ocean One and
researchers had to wait out adverse weather conditions and
overcome some malfunctions. On the last scheduled day of
the dive, the weather was good and Ocean One recovered a
grapefruit sized vase and returned it to the ship. This is a
fabulous example of how robotics can assist our
understanding of the world and it's history plus has many
benefits for medical research. We met Michael who had
been instrumental in the Ocean One development and dive.
Michael from the Ocean One
team.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Edgerton Center is currently running a month long
STEM lab for high school students with access to MIT staff and volunteer science teachers as
mentors. These students have volunteered a month of their summer holiday to engage in
this new learning area, work together in teams to develop projects such as a remote sensing
car, a game for vision impaired children and a motion sensor to deter native animals from
veggie gardens. All of which have a practical applications. The students have developed new
literacies through the challenges and re-thinking required during these hands on learning
projects – particularly in technological and engineering. At Google headquarters we learned
about Google's trials of driverless cars - and some of the teething troubles the self-drive
Google cars were experiencing.
Boston's Museum of Science is a wonderfully inviting and
engaging environment for families to explore scientific and
engineering concepts. The Museum created and patented
the term Technological Literacy. The Museums exhibits
really encourage and challenge their visitors to become
learners again, to experience, explore, consider, review,
discuss and evaluate. The Museum believes "to take
advantage of the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of
technology, Americans must become better stewards of
technological change". (Technically Speaking 2002 National
Academy of Engineering/National Research Council.)
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
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The escalating use of technology, increasing capacity
of drones and research into robotics and artificial
intelligence gives rise to the question about purpose
and potential conflicts of this research. What are the
purposes of the research? Will the research
outcomes address human needs and assist earth's
ecological systems and sustainability, or will the
outcomes be more focused on human wants political and economic imperatives?
It's extremely important for today's learners and citizens to develop 21st century skills, to be
curious, creative, collaborative researchers and critical thinkers who can communicate their
ideas using multiple literacies - scientific, technological and ecological literacy. Then like the
Museum of Science suggests, 21st Century learners/citizens "...can take advantage of the
benefits and avoids the pitfalls of technology. Americans [everyone] must become better
stewards of technological change" so that the work being done is for the good of human
kind.
Jenny Dudgeon
Sustainability Learning Centre.
___________________________________________________________________________
Tasmanian Science Talent
Search – 2016
Technology and Engineering
Challenges – Judging Details
In the North:
Where: East Launceston Primary School
When: Sunday August 28th from 10.30 – 12.30
In the South:
Where: Rosetta Primary School
When: Saturday September 3rd from 10.30 – 12.30
Students bring their entries and the accompanying materials with them on the day – check
the TSTS Booklet for details for both Engineering and Technology. Written work and video
presentations (Engineering only) will be kept for the judges to consider at a later time.
All students who intend to enter need to have their entry registered with the TSTS director
by August 14. This can be done by sending names and year levels to [email protected]
STAT is looking forward to seeing lots of entries and working with your students
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Science and Engineering Challenge State Series
The Science and Engineering Challenge is a set of fun and
competitive hands-on activities involving principles of science,
engineering and technology. The concept is to immediately
engage students in the activity with a minimum of
introduction and theory.
Participating schools select their representative teams of
between 24 and 32 students from Years 9 and 10. A total of
eight different activities are set for each day, and each school
allocates three or four students to each activity. The
students are encouraged to explore scientific principles for
themselves rather than being guided to a predetermined
answer. Teams are divided into eight groups that compete in
one full day or two half-day activities.
Points are scored and tallied, and the winning
school on that day qualifies for the Super Challenge
(State Final), and may go on to the National
Championships event (National Final). A competitive
environment is created as representative school
teams are pitted against each other and against the
clock, in a range of science and engineering tasks
This year, 1570 Year 9 and 10 students from 56
Tasmanian high schools participated in the
Tasmanian Science and Engineering Challenge
series, co-ordinated by Mrs. Susie Haley, Faculty of
Science, Engineering and Technology.
Schools from all regions of the state (including
Queenstown, St Helens, Woodbridge and the Huon)
took part in the three regional heats, with winning
teams participating in the State Finals held on the
University of Tasmania campus in Sandy Bay.
Volunteers, including Rotarians,
engineering and other local
businesses, retired engineers and
University of Tasmania students
contributed approximately 1950 hours
to ensure the Challenge series was a
success.
VIPs included:
 the Dean of Faculty of Science,
Engineering and Technology
who presented the trophies at
the state finals,
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
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 the Federal Member for Bass,
Andrew Nikolic AM, CSC, MP
who presenting the trophies
at one of the heats in
Launceston, and
 the Rotary District Governor
and two Past Governors, who
were also in attendance at the
heats.
Congratulations to the winning team from Launceston Christian School, who will be going
through to compete against schools from other states in the Science and Engineering
Challenge National Finals on 21 October 2016 at the University of Tasmania.
Jeannie-Marie Leroi
Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Tasmania
For more information about the Engineering challenge:
Tasmanian Challenge.
University of Newcastle.
Downloadable Robot Resource Booklet
National Science Week
supports teachers with
online posters and a
downloadable resource
booklet on Drones,
Droids and Robots to
bring you up to speed
with this year’s theme.
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
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CONASTA 65 – Brisbane - were you there?
Hi all. Well!! CONASTA, the conference of the
Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) is done
and dusted for another year. This year’s event was in
Brisbane at an independent school on South Bank, by
the name of Somerville House. The number of
participants was good, the weather was not too bad, the
functions and events were worth attending and overall
it was pretty much an excellent success.
What happens at a CONASTA for those of you who have
not been before? CONASTA always starts off on a
Sunday in the first (or second) week of July with
registration and a welcome function. This year the
welcome function was at the Maritime Museum on
South Bank. Everyone was in a festive mood and there
were more than adequate drinks and nibbles to keep
everyone happy as people caught up with others they
had not seen for a year or made new friends. There was
also the chance to tour the museum, an added bonus.
The real business started on Monday with the conference opening and the first in a range of
amazing keynote speakers who addressed the conference on each of the days. The opening
speaker was Professor Neal Menzies, Head of School and Dean of Agriculture at UQ.
Professor Menzies spoke extremely well on how we can continue to care for our
environment and yet still feed the world’s huge population. It was such a thought provoking
and informative address. Over CONASTA there were 4 other major keynotes and other
seminar sessions on some days with a variety of speakers. All the major and minor keynotes
were of outstanding quality and I felt I learnt something from each.
On Monday, and other days as well, there was also the opportunity to attend workshops.
My workshops included a session on a very useful risk assessment program, which is being
developed by Phil and Eva Crisp. Their set up really makes this important planning stage so
much more manageable for teachers and, as a bonus, they are in the process of making their
program work in the primary setting.
In the afternoon I attended a workshop titled “I love the Periodic
Table (8 year old girl) Will your students agree? “ It was presented
by Ian Stuart and Jenny Donovan. How could I resist it and it did not
disappoint? Ian, a former secondary teacher’s bio says “Ian's 2009
move to teaching primary students arose from his young son's
interest and ability to engage with and understand atomic theory. “
Ian’s approach is novel and engaging and much of his material is on
Youtube. He is working with Jenny Donovan, also a former teacher
and now a researcher at USQ, to explore the longer term success of
his approach to teaching this often perceived as off-limits topic to
primary age students. As a bonus, each workshop attendee
received a container of excellent “Sticky Atoms” which had been
used by the presenters in the presentation. Sticky Atoms for those
of you who like molecular models, distributed by Serrata.)
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Sticky Atoms by
Serrata.
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Monday finished off with the Stanhope presentation – a
regular feature of each CONASTA. This year the address
was presented by the Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel
(former publisher of COSMOS magazine) who is relatively
new to the position and has some pretty strong views on
how Science and Maths education should be being
supported here in Australia. Post Stanhope there were
more drinks and nibbles and the finish of a very
satisfactory day. Tuesday offered a continuation of the
same quality of program.
What’s more, the food at morning tea and lunch was good and I chose an off-site workshop
on Tuesday afternoon, which offered the opportunity to walk off the food and learn more
about the geology and history of Brisbane. Tuesday afternoon offered Happy Hour at 5pm
and then the conference dinner in the evening. The Super Hero theme added a touch of
extra fun and anyone who has been to a CONASTA dinner knows that the opportunity to get
up and dance is a highlight.
Wednesday – the last day. Some went to the Science Breakfast, which was again with the
theme of Mini-beasts, good although I did not attend. First up for me was another amazing
keynote by CSIRO senior researcher, Dr. Stefan Hajkowicz, who talked about the way his
work will help organizations explore plausible futures and make wise choices with a
particular emphasis Science and the digital economy. Then there were several more really
worthwhile workshops including one on ways to change your Science from blah to H.O.T. (so
useful), but, too soon, the conference ended with …
DA DA.
The presentation for the next CONASTA, which is in ………… drum roll………..
HOBART at Wrest Point Casino from the 9 to 12 July 2017.
The theme will be “The art of science.”
See you there!!! Why would you be anywhere else?
Jill Reade
STAT Treasurer
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
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Conasta 2017 – Update
CONASTA, the annual conference of the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA) will
be held in Hobart in July 2017. It is the first week of Tasmanian school holidays, so be sure
to you plan your holidays around attending CONASTA.
Below is what we are telling mainlanders about CONASTA, but we are sure that you already
know how great Tasmania is in July. Attending a national conference will make it even
greater.
See you there.
Robyn Aitken and Denise Devitt
CONASTA 2017 Convenors
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
Dates to Remember:
Prospectus available: 1 Sep 2016
Abstract submissions opens: 1 Nov 2016
Abstract submissions close: 20 January 2017
Earlybird Registration opens: 12 March 2017 18
STAT Professional Learning Calendar
Stay tuned to the website and social media for more details.
http://stat.org.au/professional-learning-2/
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Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
The Islands In Schools Project
See the website: http://www.islandsinschools.com.au
Science Week: Drones, Droids & Robots – STATIC August 2016
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