STEM Professionals in Schools is a national volunteer program that facilitates partnerships between schools and industry to bring real STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) into the classroom. It is Australia’s largest national skilled volunteering program for linking STEM professionals and classroom teachers/educators in schools across the country. The program is supported by the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment and is delivered by CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation).
Marist Regional College has been part of the program for some years and is currently engaged in its second partnership. Our professional partner is Ariel Pascoe, Environmental Consultant with Environmental Service and Design Pty Ltd, Burnie. Ariel’s job involves a broad range of pursuits that take her right across Tasmania, including addressing issues in land management, water management and environmental monitoring.
Areil’s partnership with Marist has seen her act as a judge in our Middle Years’ Science Fair, mentor senior STEM Club students with their Independent Inquiries and give talks and presentations to Middle Years’ students. Ariel’s most recent involvement was on Friday, 18 March where she presented a talk on the Science of Art, a very apt connection of ideas for Ariel, given that she’s a street artist! Many will know her murals in Burnie, like that below, seen outside the Kmart Plaza.
Middle Years’ students Amarli, Layla, Halle, Ayla, Monique, Charlotte, Felix, Lily and Tanner had front-row seats for the presentation! Ariel took them through a whirlwind tour of the history of pigments, including the extraction of carmine or cochineal pigment from the cochineal bug (dactylopius coccus), a slate bug that feeds on the prickly pear grown throughout Mexico and South America. Ariel’s talk was simultaneously illustrated by her painting of the electromagnetic spectrum, and included mention of absorption, reflection and the reasons as to why objects appear the colours they do.
This presentation was very relevant to the ACARA curriculum studies of Middle Years’ students and was thoroughly enjoyed by all. Further presentations will take place over the weeks to come, and students will be advised in advance so that they can book a spot and avoid disappointment, given limited spaces available with current Covid restrictions.
Images from Ariel’s presentation:
Ms A Burke, Teacher: STEM/Chemistry/Physical Sciences, partner Ms Ariel Pascoe, Environmental Scientist