Jennifer Selinger

View from the Kleinlehrer Family Science Building

They stroll down in twos and threes, chattering like magpies. Once in the rooms, they stand around awkwardly in groups, wondering what happens next, slightly nervous and slightly excited, but trying not to show it. Year 10 Night of Science and Wonder is here! Around the room hang the posters – some beautifully presented, some looking rather dog-eared, but all distinctly individual. Want to know how to make a flower glow? Ever wondered if it is actually possible to teach an old dog a new trick? Do you know which Youtube videos are most likely to be watched … and why? If not, you should have been at the Year 10 Night of Science and Wonder!

I “wonder” every year how it is possible that the students come up with such an interesting variety of projects. The topics are as different as the students and they seem to see no barriers to investigating anything that they find interesting – no matter how complicated. They research the concept they have chosen, design an experiment to go with their idea and then present their work as a poster. Standing in front of their display, each student is able to talk knowledgably about their topic, their experiment and the difficulties they have overcome to have a decent presentation on the night.

As the parents trickle in, the room begins to buzz. Generally, each parent starts with the display that their child produced and hangs around there for a while, but inevitably they begin to be seduced by the enthusiasm of the other students and drift around from display to display, stopping to chat with the creator and generally finding themselves being informed about all manner of phenomena. There are always things presented that I did not know. Last night I learnt about misphonia, something I had never heard of before. The students eagerly explain what they have done and their audience listens … and learns.

Congratulations to all involved – the work was terrific, the presentation engaging and I was very proud of the students and the evidence of their hard work – well done to all!