Science Ambassador Activity
ReportBy Matthew Morris, Chloe Hindley, Bruce
Niyibitanga and Isabella Angat
Mabel Park State High School
North Pine Dam Excursion
• UQ Science Ambassadors were invited to
attend the Year 7 North Pine Dam
excursion in February. The ambassadors
assisted the Yr 7s with experiments such
as water testing. We acted as mentors
and role-models for the juniors.
The Year 11 and 12 senior Chemistry class
was also invited to assist in their studies of
water treatment.
Brain Day Challenge - 4th March 2016
• Harris Fields, Mabel Park, Slacks Creek, Kingston, Woodridge North and
Chatswood State Schools were invited to the annual Brain Day
Challenge at Mabel Park SHS.
• The fun-filled day consisted of various engaging and ‘brain’ activating
activities including water rockets, planes, drones and engineering
activities. These were all especially designed to test the brain and had
a STEM focus!
• UQ Science Ambassadors assisted in all activities on the day, with the
help of our fantastic science teachers.
Water Rocket
Pi Day - 14th March
• Mabel Park Maths Science Academy and
UQ Science Ambassadors assisted in Pi Day
celebrations.
• Students who could successfully name the
first 12 digits of ‘Pi’ (3.1415926535….)
would be awarded with a piece of apple
pie!
• The event was a huge success in promoting
science and maths and created a positive
feeling towards learning.
World Science Festival Excursion
UQ Science Ambassadors, as
well as MSA students, were
invited to attend the World
Science Festival in March. The
ambassadors assisted the
juniors with the excursion, as
well as having heaps of fun!
Science Primary School Assistance
• UQ Science Ambassadors helped out in various
primary schools including Harris Fields,
Kingston, Slacks Creek, Mabel Park and
Chatswood State Schools in science related
classes on various occasions through the MPSHS
primary school science partnership.
• We believe by conducting engaging science
lessons for these students at primary school, it
will encourage them to take science related
classes in High School.
Mabel Park Maths Science Academy (MSA)
Presentations
• The MSA students, UQ Ambassadors and Griffith Ambassadors at Mabel Park were awarded their badges at an inaugural presentation of the Mabel Park MSA.
MPSHS Maths and Science Week – 15th
to 18th August 2016.
• Monday to Wednesday – The Mabel Park SHS science
ambassadors spent each day from Monday through to
Wednesday at Harris Fields State School where we
conducted a series of fun science related experiments for
each class.
• Experiments comprised of the sugar snake experiment,
magnetic hour glass, ferro-fluid, hydrophobic sand and a
kinetic Ferris wheel.
(Part of National Science Week)
15th – 17th August 18th August
MPSHS Maths and Science Week –
15th to 18th August 2016.
• At the same time, the MPSHS Maths
Science Academy (MSA) Students
hosted a STEMFare expo in the school
hall which focused on robotics, music
and the augmented reality sandbox.
• Jim Chalmers MP also joined us on
Wednesday to celebrate the event.
Outcomes:
• The STEMFare at Harris Fields SS was
extremely successful, with at least 1000primary school students from three different
schools attending over the three days.
Chloe (Current UQ Ambassador)
Bruce (Current UQ Ambassador)
Isa (Current UQ Ambassador)
Brittany (Past UQ Ambassador)
Matt (Current UQ Ambassador)
Maths and Science Week – 18th
August 2016
• Mabel Park and Slacks Creek State Schools
were invited to Mabel Park State High School
for our own science expo.
• The expo included various demonstrations
conducted by the UQ Ambassadors, as well as
‘Apple Spirals', 'Watermelon Bucky Balls’,
drones, robotics and our own augmented
reality sandbox.
• Mr Raadts showcased our newly purchased
DJI Phantom 4 drone on this day! (more photos on
next slide)
Ada Lovelace day
• Female UQ Science ambassadors from Mabel were
invited to the Ada Lovelace Day, which is an
international celebration day for the achievements of
women in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM). It aims to increase the profile of
women in STEM and create new role models who will
encourage more females into STEM careers which are
somewhat mostly male dominated.
“Girl Power Equals Winning Equation”
• The hard work of past UQ Science Ambassadors at
Mabel - Brittany, Hayley and Medina. Also, this
year’s current ambassadors - Isabella and Chloe were
featured in an article published by the Courier Mail in
September.
• The UQ Science Ambassador program, along with the
support of Mrs King on-stie, is helping to build the
confidence for all of our students, but especially
females, to enrol in high level mathematics and
science subjects at Mabel Park.
Courier Mail
MPFEST Science Demonstrations
19th of October 2016
• Every year, Mabel Park State High students host MPFEST which
showcases the talents of many students within the school.
Performances include mainly singing, dancing, cultural dancing,
and this year, science experiments.
• The UQ Science Ambassadors, as well as a Griffith Science
Ambassador hosted a ten minute session of science demonstrations.
Pictures on next slide
Experiments included elephants
toothpaste, vanishing water, and
exploding balloons of oxygen (O2),
hydrogen (H2) and hydrogen and
oxygen (H2O2).
STEM Cells @ UQ
UQ Science Ambassadors will be helping out the Year 8’s and 9’s on the day. The STEM Cells day at UQ will outline what University will be like, and what to expect overall.
Upcoming Events:
Awards Night 7th November
MSA and UQScience Ambassadors will be formally acknowledged for their efforts at the upcoming MPSHS awards night.