Issue 6, 2007
Science and Technology
Fight climate change and win prizes for your school
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C iStockphoto.com |
Are you looking for an engaging project that empowers young people to use science to make positive changes to our world?
The Macquarie University Eureka Schools Science Prize for Action Against Climate Change encourages students in Years 7-10 to conduct their own research and consider science-based responses to CO2 emissions associated with climate change. Using their home or school as a case study, students are asked to use scientific methods to identify and estimate CO2 emissions and suggest ways these might be reduced.
The Prize is especially designed to address Prescribed Focus Areas and Life Skills Outcomes in Stages 4 and 5 of the New South Wales science syllabus.
The lesson plan for the Prize provides step-by-step guidelines to completing the project - from understanding the effect of CO2 emissions on the environment, identifying sources of CO2 emission, measuring emissions, researching ways to reduce CO2 output and understanding ways to offset emissions. Results must be scientifically measured and presented online - it is a science prize after all!
How students present their online results is up to them - the more creative the better. They could write a song, do a dance or rap, produce an animation, short film or website, do a PowerPoint presentation, film a debate or record an audio discussion.
How the presentation is made is not the critical issue. What matters is how effectively the chosen Action Against Climate Change message is conveyed - and that the presentation is available for viewing online.
Winners of the Macquarie University Eureka Prize for Action Against Climate Change will share over $11,000 worth of cash and prizes.
Entries open February 2008 and close 5pm Friday 2 May 2008. Competition details, entry forms and lesson plans will be available soon at: www.austmus.gov.au/eureka
For further information contact Chris Gaussen on (02) 9850 4273.