We might be based in tropical Singapore, but one of the highlights of the year is the British Science Week!
Why don’t Biology and Physics get along?............ Because they don’t have chemistry!!
ScienceWEEK @ DCIS was back and bigger than ever this week, with our Secondary school students observing outstanding demonstrations during form time, taking part in intriguing investigations at lunchtime, and engaging in enthralling external talks throughout the week. And not forgetting the Science Faculty’s annual dance routine!
Wednesday was our busiest and most thrilling day. Year 9 and 10 students participated in whole year group House Science Quizzes, and it was fantastic to have the whole year group back in Cooper Hall for the first time since 2020. Newton was victorious for Year 9, whilst Jurong took the crown for the Year 10s. Miss Haworth may have lost her voice in the process, what a fantastic time we had!
In addition, Wednesday saw Year 8 students listening to an excellent presentation from the outreach programme at Airbus Singapore. Students had the chance to ask any and all questions about aeroplanes – and what a range of questions we had!
The Year 12 students were fortunate to receive an academic lecture from two scientists, Ajay Mathuru (Yale-NUS) and Graham Wright (A*Star Microscopy), working here in Singapore. They shared their work related to neuroscience and sophisticated imaging technology which supports research and treatment in this fascinating field.
Lunchtimes this week were lively! On Monday Year 7 students investigated owl pellets with Miss Haworth in the annual Bone Hunt – an excellent opportunity to dissect and discover what owls have for dinner! Tuesday brought Exciting Electricity and Curious Chemistry to our labs with Mr Sacre and Ms Frias. Hair stood on end (literally) and gasps of delight were heard as the students learnt how to turn copper coins to gold.
Year 8 learners signed up for the Dare to Dissect lunch time activity in record time on Thursday. They participated with gusto, and quickly got stuck into slicing and dicing lung tissue under the watchful eye of Ms Amorim. Mrs Wright rounded off the week building Terrific Terrariums with Year 7; beautiful creations which showcase how nutrients and water can be recycled so that these tiny ecosystems can be self-sustainable for years to come! After school we have also had Year 8 students working with Ms Gkioka and Miss Haworth to design and produce safety wear for the DCIS ‘skeletons’, allowing them to be safe, yet stylish, in the lab!
A range of riveting competitions ran all week. The Great Science Bake Off returned, inviting our students to bake something delicious and decorate it as anything and everything scientific. New for 2022, aspiring comedians shared their science jokes and had us laughing our socks and safety-specs off in the Science Stand Up - a highlights compilation will be shown next week. Students have also been energetic in their efforts to complete the Science Week Treasure Hunt, darting around the school to visit staff, collecting information about many different scientists and their key discoveries and research!
Congratulations to our winners: Bake off: Giulia and Maisy in 8EJ; Science Stand up: Xavier in 10AD, and Treasure Hunt: Lachlan in 8KV.
The week might just be over, but the Science Faculty have already started brainstorming for next year's version!
