Science

from Annual: Trinity 2007

Volleyball

Science went digital at Trinity in 2007 – or we at least began a transformation in our approach to integrating technology into the curriculum. Thanks to a very generous grant from the College, the Physics Learning Area was able to purchase a Mr Tim Blake Head of Science significant amount of Pasco data logging equipment under the direction of our senior Physics teacher Mr Craig Adams, assisted by Mr Mark Dodd and Mr Bill Cooper. The ability to measure and record data continuously with state-of-the-art technology will not only open up a whole new dimension of investigation for the students, but also mirror the type of research conducted in industry. In 2008, the program will expand to include the other Senior School and Middle School subjects. It should be recognised that the management of the new resources and the ease of integration into the curriculum would not be possible without an enormous amount of sound advice and hard work by our laboratory technicians Mr Lim May San and Ms Debra Renfrey. Our students once again excelled in the 2006 TEE results with Trinity being in the top ten schools in the state in Human Biology, accolades go to science teacher Ms Brigitte Savy-Walsh. Despite our excellent TEE results over the last five years, far too few of our boys opt to study the life sciences and many struggle with the physical sciences in the mistaken belief they will get a better TER score. Biology and Human Biology are subjects offering wide ranging applications and life skills and more students would be well advised to take them up, especially if they wish to specialise in related fields. Stephen Dale (12.4) has been an exceptional ambassador for Trinity over the past twelve months. Our Year 12 Chemistry Prize winner was selected to go to Canberra along with only nineteen other students for the 2006 Australian Olympiad Summer School. After completing the course Stephen narrowly missed out on qualifying for the National team that travels overseas to compete in the world championships. However such was his success that he was approached by the Asian Science Camp. This prestigious International program for school students is by invitation only catering to the best science talent in the world. Stephen had the most marvellous time representing Australia at the event under the tutelage of thirteen world renowned professors, five of whom are Nobel Prize winners. Stephen has again been selected for the 2008 Olympiad summer school but has decided to study at university instead. We are very proud of our first academic Olympian and wish him all the best in what will be a great future. Well done Stephen.

With the help of science teacher Mr Mike Slack-Smith, the new co-curricular Student Information Program (SIPS) was trialled for Year 10 students, introducing them to career opportunities in the oil industry. A dozen lucky students were treated to a series of lectures by oil professionals from Woodside Petroleum Limited about the various fields open to them. It is possible that the boys will never forget the 3-D room at Woodside where a hologram of the North West Shelf oil reservoirs appeared to float around their heads.

During 2007, we once again had excellent results in various science competitions, particularly The Rio Tinto Big Science Competition, and the Royal Australian Chemistry Institute (RACI) Australia National Chemistry Quiz reaped excellent results; testament to the quality of tuition by science teachers Mr Al Hay and Mr Jim Shackleton.

Biology continued to lead the way in co-curricular activities with trips to Malaysia, Dryandra and the Stirling Ranges, as well as various ecosystems in the Perth area. Teachers Ms Brigitte Savy-Walsh and Mr Bobby Emmanuel conducted the annual trip to Perth Zoo to study our closest primate relatives.

With much uncertainty and unease surrounding the proposed new Courses of Study for Senior School, 2007 continued to provide challenges. It has been a difficult birth for the new courses and much hard work lies ahead prior to their introduction in 2009. However, the professionalism of the staff in the Science Learning Area (SLA) will ensure that the high standard of teaching and the rigorous science education at Trinity will not diminish.

I would like to thank all the SLA staff for their hard work and professionalism throughout the year.

Academic

Malaysia Expedition

Rafflesia are the world’s largest flowers and they stink! The members of the 2007 Malaysia Expedition were very fortunate to see a fine specimen in a small patch of remnant rainforest on the slopes of Mount Kinabalu. This was just one of many exciting experiences for twentynine intrepid students of Biology, Geography and Human Biology in the July holiday.

Our trip started with an early morning cultural immersion shopping in Gaya Street Market followed by a brief introduction to mangrove swamps and the rest of the day shopping in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. The next day our journey took us to Mesilau to observe huge pitcher plants and Poring Hot Springs, where we were able to learn much about Diptocarp rainforests on the exhilarating 30m high canopy walk. Afterwards our shaking legs received a much welcome bath in the scalding volcanic springs that give the area its name.

An arduous two day hike to the top of Mount Kinabalu at 4095.2m followed. The incredible variety of orchids, epiphytes, ferns and mosses that adorned the tropical rainforest along the trail was unbelievable. As we climbed further up the mountain the vegetation changed to stunted cloud forests full of flowering rhododendrons and hanging moss just visible in the ever-present mist. None of us will forget the torrential rain and gale force winds that beset us for the last two hours of the hike and the chalets were a welcome relief. Unfortunately the conditions were too treacherous to attempt the summit but the experience and the sense of achievement for all was immense.

From Kinabalu we ventured to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre for displaced and orphaned orangutans. This is a wonderful place to observe not only orangutans but also pig-tailed and long-tailed macaques; but it is also a sad place, to realise these rare creature have lost their homes to incessant land clearing by the encroaching oil palm industry.

From Sepilok we ventured to Bilit on the banks of the Kinatabangan River which is only accessible by boat. The rainforest experience far out-weighed the quality of the accommodation. Who will forget the mud bath in the ox-bow lake and the antics of the proboscis monkeys that we saw all around us? A number of students were lucky enough to experience life in a typical Malay home. Our journey continued to Sanadakan War Memorial which added a poignant reminder of the sacrifice of so many brave soldiers. The trip concluded in the palatial accommodation of Gayana Island, snorkelling in the warm waters of the South China Sea. This was a wonderful trip with an excellent group of worthy students. My thanks to Vicki Jones for the brilliant humour and the ever dependable Mike Slack-Smith.