2014 School Magazine

BIOLOGY On 12 May, Year 11 Biology students embarked on a field trip to Stradbroke Island to further their understanding of organisms and their ecosystems. It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience that enabled the cohort to expand on their studies out of the classroom environment and explore the behaviours of numerous organisms in their natural habitats. GABRIELLA ELGOOD (11O)

CHEMISTRY ISABELLE HIGGINS (11W)

YEAR 12 CHEMISTRY SOPHIE ROSE (12M) Chemistry has provided me with an understanding of the processes that underpin much of what goes on around us and profoundly impacted my approach to problem solving. It stimulates me to think outside the box — to approach things not only logically and systematically, but also from a unique perspective that delves much deeper into the realm of science. The thing I have adored most about Chemistry is its lasting impact on my attitude towards learning, as I am no longer willing to settle for simply knowing what something is — I need to know how it works, and the mechanisms that drive it to be this way. Chemistry encourages girls to challenge themselves, build upon fundamentals and ultimately apply this knowledge to real-life situations. This year we investigated a range of topics including chemical equilibrium, electrochemistry and organic chemistry, and consolidated our knowledge through enjoyable , albeit exceptionally messy, experimentation. These elements combined to produce a truly challenging but, nonetheless, unforgettable experience. Recently, a study by the National Research Council identified over fifty per cent of graduate students were most interested in Chemistry during their time at high school — and with the range of concepts we study at Girls Grammar, it is easy to see why. ■ What more wonderful, thrilling and occasionally unpredictable subject could you ask for? The year started with an exploration of the Law of Conservation of Mass, which became an in-depth study of why nothing ever turns out the way you expect! Next, we discovered exactly how important hydrogen bonds are — these tiny, invisible forces of attraction quite literally hold your life together. Given we like eating, they are also fairly important in producing commercial fertilisers. In Term III we segued from the miniscule to the massive with Stoichiometry — using numbers so large humans can never really comprehend them. Did you know that a mole (6.02 x 1023) of sand grains would cover the entire surface of Australia to a depth of 80 kilometres? Last, but certainly not least, we turned to the future, looking for biofuels to save the world. In conclusion, I would like to make some Chemistry puns but all the good ones argon. (It was a CuTe attempt). ■

Year 11 Biology has provided a solid foundation for senior Biology next year. It has been one of our favourite subjects as the topics studied and the practical work has been very interesting, intellectually stimulating and diverse. The field trips, in particular, were beneficial experiences. They enabled us to have a hands-on approach in relation to the theory learnt in the classroom. ALEX BROWN (11G), KRISTEN HAMMELMANN (11G), GUILIA MARRAMA (11G) AND AILSA TRAVES (11G) Year 12 Biology has allowed us to expand our understanding and apply it beyond normal classroom learning. We were able to use techniques used by research scientists in real world biotechnology laboratories when planning and completing our own extended experimental investigations. Some of us also attended an excursion to QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute that allowed us to see and understand some of the applications of our class work to

medical research and wider society. ISABELLA BRAINSBURY (12G) AND ELLIE SHIH (12R)

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