Our enthusiastic Year 9 students were privileged to take part in the Explore STEM Day at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Joondalup, as part of the Excelsior Extension Programme. Representing our school with curiosity, they immersed themselves in a day designed to spark scientific interests.

The day began with an inspiring welcome session showcasing cutting-edge science and future university pathways. Students then embarked on a lively campus scavenger hunt, with the highlight being the discovery of the world’s largest periodic table displayed on the wall of ECU’s new Science building.

Hands-on workshops followed, where students explored hair forensics, learning how DNA can be identified and how to distinguish human hair from animal hair. Using microscopes, they compared samples from Samaritan Tigers, Dingoes, Zebras, and other animals with their own. 

Students then investigated how multi-tasking affects reaction time, with results that sparked plenty of laughs and insights. Highlights included: Levi’s meticulous sampling, Ms Erasmus’ suspiciously superman ability to multi-task, and Noah’s gaming-honed reflexes securing first place.

After a relaxing lunch on campus, students headed to the eagerly anticipated Sprint Lab to explore the role of physics in sports science. Lucy, Noah and Jayden were the first lab rats analysed for factors influencing velocity and performance. A quick boys-versus-girls comparison revealed some fascinating insights, with Rafael stealing the show by recording the fastest sprint time of all participating schools – a result that even impressed the ECU staff.

The event concluded with lively discussions about future careers, with many students sharing aspirations in medicine, forensic science, and other STEM fields – proof that the experience truly ignited curiosity.