Sydenham High School had a jam-packed week of activities to mark British Science Week 2023. Our fabulous Science department really spoilt us with all the various opportunities on offer:
Lunchtime lectures
Pupils were fascinated by our Science Week talks: Manasee Weerathunga described how computational biology is used to help decode the tree of life, Leah Fitzpatrick introduced the ‘fast and the furriest’, her research into venomous mammals and Dr Joanna Tindall talked about her interdisciplinary research into climate and Mayan civilisation collapse.
Year 8 Science Week Conference
Year 8 pupils were challenged to create a university viva style poster based on either Digestive System & Nutrition (Biology), Patterns & Atoms (Chemistry) or Hooke’s Law & Pressure (Physics). They had to spend time researching to back up the arguments they were making, using scientific language and knowledge from different sources. Part of this was also being able to answer questions from their peers and as well as assessing the quality of work from their peers based on rigorous and demanding objectives. The work produced was of an excellent standard and teachers were impressed by the confidence pupils developed in presenting and defending their scientific research.
Years 4 & 5 Prep scientists visited the Senior School labs
Year 12 students helped the Science department with experiments for their younger counterparts as they got busy cooking marshmallows and biscuits on the Bunsen burners to investigate the energy produced. This certainly sparked their interest!
Years 9 & 10 Chemical Reaction Challenge
Years 9 and 10 were tested on their knowledge about rates of reactions and their practical abilities. They were provided with Magnesium and Hydrochloric acid and used trial and error to work to vary the concentration of the acid to get the reaction to finish at a specific time set by their teacher. Pupils were very competitive, really pushing themselves to get the closest to the time set by using all their scientific prowess.
For Year 11 Clock Reaction Challenge
Year 11 were tested on their knowledge about equilibrium and their practical abilities. The Iodine Clock reaction produces a blue/black solution and students used their own knowledge and understanding (with a bit of luck) to vary amounts of unknown solutions to get theirs to finish at a specific time set by their teacher. Pupils were very competitive, and it was impressive to see them across the different classes, putting their skills into action.
GDST Science Spelling Bee
The GDST Science Spelling Bee is an interschool competition open to Year 7 and 8 pupils. Lydia, Marianna and Neli in Year 7 won the first round and moved through to represent Sydenham High School at the finals on Monday. There was tough competition from other schools and whilst they did not go on to win the event, they did extremely well in demonstrating their knowledge of some very complex scientific words.
GDST Virtual Medicine Conference
On Wednesday, pupils from Years 11 and 12 virtually attended the GDST Medicine Conference which was designed to give them an insight into a career in medicine and the routes to get there. This included keynote speakers, how to improve patient outcomes, medical ethics, how to handle difficult conversations and a Q&A session with medical students. Pupils were also given experience of the UCAT & BMAT tests which surprised several pupils with their complexity and highly pressured nature of the questions. They will now take what they have learnt from this and continue to augment their understanding during BioMedSoc, in preparation for any medical university applications and future careers.
Particle Physics Masterclass
Our Year 12 Physics students, attended the particle physics masterclass at the Rutherford Appleton labs for a day of lectures, tours and workshops.
Maya, Jocelyn, Alyssa & Megan said:
It was snowing almost as much as it was raining neutrons when we arrived at the Rutherford Appleton laboratory. The atmosphere was electric as our interest in particle colliders was accelerated from the start. As muons flew in all directions, we had a very positive experience learning the structure of the standard model and walking around both targets in the ISIS accelerator. Coding with python enlightened us on how meticulously data is processed and how the Higgs boson particle was confirmed, almost half a century after its conjecture”
BioMedSoc Speaker
Alumna Dr Phillipa Guppy virtually attended BioMedSoc last Friday. She is a palliative care doctor and senior lecturer working in London and delivered a talk about her career pathway, which included time volunteering for Hospice Africa in Uganda and taking the time to find the specialism that she wanted to pursue.
She showed real passion and determination in following her career and wanting to be a doctor since she was in school herself. Students in BioMedSoc really appreciated the time she took to answer their questions and the honesty involved in being up front about life as a doctor now in the NHS.
Science Live
Scholars from Years 8 and 9 were taken to the Science Museum to learn about the important role of technicians and the history of medicine, followed by the inaugural Key Stage 3 Science Live at the Emmanuel Conference Centre, where they heard from five scientists, including Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Lord Winston. This fast-paced, thought-provoking event stimulated even greater enthusiasm among pupils, and improved scientific literacy by connecting school science to the real world, promoting an understanding of evidence, communication, practical and enquiry skills across biology, chemistry and physics. Izzy even volunteered to be the biology specialist with Douglas Acheampong!
RSC Olympiad 2023
Sixteen Year 12 and 13 A Level Chemistry students took part in the Royal Society of Chemistry 55th Olympiad back in January. There were over 11,000 students across the UK who took part this year. The Olympiad is the leading Chemistry competition, known for its demand, challenge and rigour due students having to apply their knowledge in new, real-world situations and develop their critical thinking skills. This year, we can congratulate seven students who achieved a Bronze award with a few being close to a Silver – Femi Adesegun; Liza Filatova; Ruby Gratrick; Susanna Heckscher; Kirsten Marks; Amelia Sutcliff and Emily Whitelaw.
In addition to all of the above, as part of our commitment to sustainability, our science technicians have been busy clearing cupboards and sorting old glassware, and we are so pleased that we have been able to donate it to local schools who will give it a new lease of life as we prepare for the exciting lab refurbishments over Easter!
