SENIOR SCHOOL 1
The Greenway Cup Debate The Greenway Cup is a perpetual trophy awarded to the winning team in an annual debate between Ivanhoe Grammar School and Ivanhoe Girls'. This year, the Ivanhoe Girls’ team, consisting of Debating Captain Sabrina, Mayce, Caitlin, Mia and Yi won the debate with the topic, "If it were possible, we should turn the moon into a tourist destination".
Girls in STEM
Mia describes debating as a "huge confidence building” activity. “I remember when we started in Year 8 we were all so timid about getting up and speaking in front of people but now we’re in Year 12, it’s a lot easier," she explains.
This year, eight Year 11 students participated in the online 2021 Girls in STEM Mentoring Program with the Bionics Institute. This project has been offered to Ivanhoe Girls’ students since 2019, and we were fortunate enough to participate this year. Over a period of six months, we worked together in pairs to gain firsthand experience into what a career for women in the science research field looks like. Each pair was assigned a female research scientist mentor who continuously educated and supported us throughout the program. These interactions were invaluable and we were able to broaden our knowledge on such complex and relevant topics that we would not typically have the chance to learn about. The program involved dedicated scientific research into a variety of topics. Specifically: “how we test novel treatments for hearing loss in the lab”, “detecting neural dead regions in cochlear implant users”, “measuring brain activity to develop an objective test for tinnitus” and “applications for Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy”. The eight of us were lucky enough to be able to visit the Bionics Institute in person, in between lockdowns and experience what it is like working in a research science environment. Specifically, our group was able to see the works of a real cochlear implant as well as a "silent room" used for testing and detecting neural dead regions. Throughout the program, we met regularly with our mentors on Zoom and they assigned small research tasks each time to build up our knowledge of the project and its purpose. In addition to the research,
For Caitlin, her favourite thing about debating is being in a team with her friends, but she also loves how it brings out her competitive side. “It’s one of the few other events apart from sport where you do get to go up against other schools," she says.
our mentors shared their experiences in research, from the courses and pathways they took at university, to how research is funded, and the grant writing process.
So what’s the most important thing to bring to a debate? "A lot of confidence and trust in everyone,” suggests Mayce. “And a bit of aggression,” she laughs.
The experience concluded with each student pair presenting a 10 minute seminar on their research in the form of a webinar presentation to over 60 attendees, including our mentors, Robert Klupacs (CEO of the Bionics Institute), members of the Bionics Institute, Dr Priest, Mrs McClure, teachers and parents. These presentations demonstrated how our confidence and skills in communication were improved throughout the program.
Teamwork is critical. “If you have a really great trust and understanding within your teammates you are able to work really well together to build a whole argument,” says Mia. Sabrina agrees. "You really have to rely on your teammates,” she says. “You've got to work together. The debate isn't finished until all three of us have finished together."
We would like to thank the Bionics Institute for offering this invaluable partnership and opportunity to us, as well as Dr Fiona Alderson (Senior School Science Teacher) and Dr Priest. Also a special thank you to the female mentors who have shared their time and expertise while inspiring us to help achieve gender equity by pursuing our passion in STEM.
So what does winning the Greenway Cup mean to these students? "We’ve watched the older girls win their Greenway Cup over the years, so this has been something that we’ve wanted to be in since Year 8. It’s our shot."
We will forever cherish this experience and would highly encourage any student interested in a career in STEM to take up this amazing opportunity in the future. Mia and Ava Year 11
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[1] Year 11 students who participated in the Girls In STEM Mentoring Program. [2] Greenway Cup Debating Team: L-R: Yi, Mia, Sabrina, Caitlin and Mayce.
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