SCIOS Secondary - August 2025 by STAWA

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

A

Chemistry Teacher’s Bayliss Experience

In 1980, I was a Year 12 student at Busselton Senior High School I still remember attending my first Bayliss Youth Lecture that year, held in the town of Bunbury Since then, I’ve had the pleasure of attending many more this time as a chemistry teacher

Each lecture has been a fascinating experience, expanding my understanding of chemistry and showcasing its real-world applications

Over the past three years, I’ve taken students from Canning College to the Bayliss

Youth Lecture at Curtin University These lectures continue to inspire curiosity and a deeper appreciation for the role of chemistry in our lives

2023 – Professor Mauro Mocerino

Exploring Chemistry Through Virtual Reality

Students were immersed in the world of virtual reality Imagine being able to construct, enter, and examine the molecular structure of a snowflake Thanks to work

from the School of Molecular and Life Sciences at Curtin University, this is now a reality The project explored how students of the future might learn chemistry using VR technology

2024 – Dr. Elodie Rousset

Future Energy Storage

As we move away from coal and gas, how will we store and use the energy harnessed from wind and solar power? Dr Rousset addressed the challenges of current storage

systems and the urgent need for innovation to support a more sustainable energy future

2025 – Helen Coleman, PhD Candidate Sustainable Chemistry and Natural Dyes

This year’s lecture explored how chemistry is helping to develop sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable alternatives to synthetic dyes With Australia’s rich diversity of flora, could we extract dyes from native plants to replace the often-toxic synthetic ones used in industry? What chemical processes allow us to alter their colour?

Inspired by Helen’s presentation, I found myself doing something unexpected during

Easter at the Denmark Fair: I struck up a conversation with a woman selling clothing dyed with natural pigments This is something I would never have considered doing before

Presenters who are truly passionate about their work have the power to spark interest and inspiration in students – as Helen did for two of mine this year

A Chemistry Teacher’s Student’s Bayliss Experience

As an avid fountain pen user, the very first thing that crossed my mind when Ms

Coleman got to the topic of adding iron to tannins to create black dyes was the possibility of making my own ink, an impulse I decided to act upon during our semester break Gathering a big bunch of dried eucalyptus leaves and an abandoned cake tin I spent a particularly slow summer afternoon boiling the tannins out of my leaves, collecting a small amount of concentrated brown tea which already wrote beautifully out of my pen Not looking to also build my own iron smelter I had to turn to Mr Lyle, my chemistry teacher for help in completing my ink With some iron sulfate solution from the school’s lab and my jar of tannins we turned my ‘tea’ increasingly darker shades of brown, and eventually the jet black I had set out to create

The lecture was a trove of information for plants and chemistry, and I’m still left with many things I want to try – pH indicators from plant anthocyanins, and finding black

nightshade (the berries of which are used as natural dyes) to graft onto my tomatoes

amongst other leafy experiments I’m thankful for my chemistry teacher for humouring my curiosity, and for Ms Coleman for sparking it with her fantastic lecture

Chan Yang (Thomas) Ang

(Year 12 Chemistry Student)

This year’s Bayliss youth Lecture was a

must see for me, seeing that it was on the

topic of natural dyes, and sustainability in the clothing industry This is something I

have recently taken an interest in, especially when it comes to utilizing

Australian resources in the production of natural dyes

Although Helen’s research was more focused at water-based dyes that could

survive the harsh wear and alkaline resistant conditions expected of clothing, I honed in on solvent-based dyes that could be thinned down enough to spray through

airbrushes in order to paint leather surfaces such as high-end sneakers

It is always amazing to attend all sort of science lectures, however seeing people like

Helen, who are discovering new Australian plants with the potential to be dyes

commercially, always leaves you with a feeling that things are starting to shift for the

better

Callum Whyte

(Year 12 Chemistry Student)

Pamela Getalado

Hundreds of science educators across Australia enjoyed some of their Term 2 School holidays in Perth as they attended ConASTA 72: Eyes to the Future Conference

We thank everyone who attended the conference, and we hope that you enjoyed the workshops and excursions that were on offer

Enjoy some highlights and reflections from attendees You never know – you might be inspired to attend ConASTA in Brisbane next year!

Visit the Science Teachers Association of Queensland (STAQ) to express your interest to attend or present at ConASTA in 2026!

“As a first-year science specialist, after 40 years in the classroom, I found ConASTA 72 inspiring and energising. It consolidated my opinion that science teachers are thoughtful, supportive, and generous.”

Website: https://scienceiq net

Developed by the Science Teachers’ Association of Western Australia (STAWA),

ScienceIQ is proudly supported by the Royal Society of Western Australia (RSWA)

ScienceIQ is an online science quiz for school teams of four students

Teams have one hour to complete up to 12 science questions and problems in two separate rounds of competition Each round is a week apart and teachers choose the days and time to do each quiz To win, students will need to finish in the shortest time with the most questions correct

Participation certificates, first, second and third place prizes, and other great stuff

TERM 4 - Year 8

Round 1 starts on the week of Monday, 3 November 2025

Round 2 starts on the week of Monday, 10 November 2025

$25 (+ GST) per year group

Log-in details and instructions to access the practice quiz will be sent to the teachers of the registered schools prior to the competition date

Fully Aligned to Version 9.0 of the Australian Curriculum

• Covers all content descriptions and elaborations

• Includes Science Understanding, Science as a Human Endeavour and Inquiry Skills

• Explicitly linked to curriculum standards to make tracking student progress easy

Designed for Australian Classrooms

Supports scientific inquiry through real-world Australian contexts, helping students connect science to their environment and communities

• Integrates First Nations Australians’ knowledge in contextually relevant ways

Student-Friendly Organisation

• Clear learning intentions and key words for each topic

• Key concepts highlighted through diagrams, summaries and glossary support

• Encourages independent and self-paced learning with well-sequenced content

Strong Focus on Inquiry and Critical Thinking

Provides hands-on and virtual investigations to support scientific thinking

Guides students to consider ethics, cultural protocols and the role of science in society

Develops skills in data collection, analysis and evidence-based argument

Online learning that Complements and Extends the Workbooks

• Designed to reinforce and deepen understanding of workbook concepts

• Multimedia content that helps clarify key ideas and boost student engagement

• The combination of print and digital supports all types of learners

THURSDAY, 25 SEPT 2025

Here are just some of the benefits and opportunities for STAWA Members Please

check our website for details, and to find out what else STAWA does - PLUS what STAWA can offer you! (www stawa net)

SERVICES AND SUPPORT

Resources

A range of resources for both Primary and Secondary teachers is available on the website Look for the Resources Tab There are resources available to members and non-members Members can also share resources through the STAWA website You can download resources directly from the website or request to upload resources by contacting the Office (admin@stawa net)

Catalist (Secondary teachers)

Catalist is an email communications list which reaches over 800 Science Educators and is used to share information, ask questions, and discuss current issues To subscribe to Catalist, look under the Teachers Tab on the website

Australian Science Teachers’ Association (ASTA) Affiliation

Full fee-paying members enjoy the benefits of affiliated membership to the national association This includes access to ASTA’s online journal, Teaching Science, and the Chrysalis online learning community

PUBLICATIONS

STAWA Members receive:

SCIOS (STAWA online journal)

STAWA SPARKs! (Primary Science Committee online publication)

Teaching Science (ASTA journal),

Information about Science activities for students and teachers

Professional Development & Conference programs

MEMBER DISCOUNTS

Members receive discounts for STAWA Professional Development Workshops, a range of services and attractions, STAWA texts and resources, plus attendance at STAWA

Conferences and events, including:

CONSTAWA (WA Science Educators Conference)

Future Science (WA Science Educators Conference)

Psychology Teachers Convention

Marine and Maritime Teachers Convention

CONASTA (Australian Science Educators Conference, ASTA)

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION

STAWA recognition of teacher achievement and service through annual awards –de Laeter Medal

Jeff Cahill Early Career Teacher Award

Support for primary Science teachers is given through the STAWA Early Career

Primary Science Scholarship

OPPORTUNITIES

Teaching employment opportunities, curriculum review and development, government policy input, science equipment advice and professional development

An independent voice through STAWA’s representatives on many education bodies and committees

WELCOME PACK

New members receive a Welcome Pack containing a Members USB, Pen, and Notepad

STAWA LIFE MEMBERSHIP

Each nomination for STAWA Life Membership is considered on its individual merits

Nominations, accompanied by relevant supportive evidence, must be submitted to the

President of STAWA Life Membership, if awarded, is bestowed at the AGM Please

refer to the specific details on the STAWA website

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES

Science Talent Search

Physics Day

Synergy Schools Solar Challenge

MEMBERSHIP QUERIES

If you have any queries with regards to your membership, please email us at

admin@stawa net

CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE TO SCIOS?

YES, of course you can Contributions from teachers, laboratory technicians, students, academics and industry are all welcome

We are keen to increase the number and variety of types of articles published in the SCIOS So, if the answer is YES to any of the following questions, please consider submitting an article to the editor

Have you recently conducted an experiment (investigation or hands-on activity)

that worked well?

Is there a great demonstration that always gets your students’ attention?

Have you tried a new teaching technique that really engaged your students?

Do you have some helpful hints for new (and not-so-new) teachers?

Are there some safety hints and tips that you would like to pass on?

Are you using some new technology that has improved the effectiveness of your

students’ learning?

Are your students involved in a science project outside of school?

Have you recently attended a useful/interesting professional development

activity?

Email your contributions to admin@stawa net.

GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORS

These notes are a brief guide to contributors who should also refer to recent issues of the journal for guidance with style

Longer articles - should not normally exceed 3000 words plus figures, tables and any references Please use headings and sub-headings to give your article structure

Shorter articles - We also welcome shorter articles of approximately 500-1000 words plus figures, tables and any references Again, use of headings and subheadings may assist to give your article structure

Send the following to the editor:

1. Please send your document as a word file with photographs and other images embedded where you need them to be

2. Photographs and other images (e g diagrams) should be sent as separate files

3 Photographs often increase the clarity and interest level of your work Send your photographs as tiff or highest quality jpeg files with a resolution of at least 300 dot per inch (dpi) Note to teachers: a signed parent permission slip must be obtained for any photographs of students to be included in SCIOS.

4 Copyright for any part of your contribution that is copyright of a third party needs to be obtained in writing (email acceptable)

No other publisher should have published your manuscript, nor should you submit for publication elsewhere If SCIOS publishes your manuscript then your text and graphics will become copyright of STAWA STAWA will, however, agree to your use of the contents of your paper for most reasonable non-commercial purposes

Contact admin@stawa net to submit your articles