Science Faculty in Focus

(08 March 2010) This week is National Science Week, and this year is a celebration of biodiversity, and why it’s important. Did you know that of the 1.4 million species described in total on Earth, about a quarter of them are beetles? That’s about 350,000 species of beetles alone! Some scientists think that the actual total number of all species may be 10 million or more. But biodiversity can provide people with much more important resources. For example, 70% of plants which show anti-cancer properties are found in the rainforests. In total, rainforests contain about half of the world’s plant and animal species, but they are being destroyed so quickly that many beneficial plants may become extinct before their medicinal uses have been discovered.

As part of Science Week at Deer Park, there will be an opportunity to enter a national competition organised by the Institute of Biology. There are two online competitions that test your knowledge of living organisms, biodiversity and some general biology questions. There are national prizes for the highest scorers, and we will also present prizes at school for winners in each Year.

The Science Faculty are also inviting you to enter the SciCast film-making competition. You need to make a short film that explains a Physics topic, such as gravity, waves, pressure or a subject of your own choice. All you need is a digital video camera and a good idea that will come across well in a film. There are national prizes for the best entries, and the competition ends in April. There are more details on the SciCast site. Ask any of the Science Faculty Staff for details!