Week encouraging student scientists

KIDS at Bannockburn P-12 College will spend next week being budding young scientists.

From Monday, 15 August to Friday, 19 August, the school will host its annual Science Fair with students submitting projects as part of National Science Week.

Alongside the obligatory volcano, laboratory technician Sally Brown said the diagrams, posters and models aim will showcase the students’ creativity.

“Some of the ideas and projects they come up with are quite creative. It’s fascinating to see how their minds work and what interests them,” she said.

“It’s good to see particularly the younger kids getting involved and enjoying science. It’s important to engage them early because unfortunately when they get older there’s a stigma that science isn’t cool.”

About 30 students participate in the school’s Science Fair each year, and this year’s projects will be submitted either in-person or online via Google Classroom.

Prizes will be awarded, and the science lab will be open throughout the week for additional lunchtime activities.

A show-and-tell presentation will occur the week after which Ms Brown said will be their first since 2018.

The theme for 2022’s National Science Week in schools is Glass: More than meets the eye, which Ms Brown said will be recognised in the form of a display showcasing laboratory glassware.

She said although it won’t happen this year, she hopes to open their Science Week offerings for the community.

“When we were Bannockburn Primary School, we’d do a more family-oriented science fair but since we’ve moved that hasn’t really been the case,” she said.

“Hopefully once we get past the pandemic properly, we’ll be able to have the community come in to celebrate science with us and plan a bigger event for everyone. It’s definitely something for the future.”