The app can be downloaded for free from the app store. See the UWA press release here.

photo: Paul Ricketts

Michael Alpers shares his experiences of the changes that took place in the South Fore villages (Papua New Guinea) in an insightful talk at the Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery on Friday 24 May 2013.

In the 1960s, Michael Alpers (John Curtin Distinguished Professor of International Health, Curtin University) spent time in the South Fore villages, located in the Okapa District of the Eastern Highlands Province, while conducting medical field studies. His work there included identifying the neurodegenerative prion disease, kuru, and from 1977, building the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research.

The story of the discovery of kuru is featured in the SPICE resource, Proteins.

Target Audience: Year 7 Biology and general public

This app, now available from the app store, has been developed to help people distinguish between cane toads and native frogs. It has been a collaboration between the SPICE program at UWA and the Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia.

While the app is not an integral part of a SPICE resource it complements the Year 7 biology resource Feeding relationships that includes an exploration of the impact of the cane toad on a food web.

He is seen here lending a hand to students using a solar telescope at Carnamah District High School on the Aspire to Astronomy tour to the Murchison with ICRAR, Aspire UWA, UWA School of Indigenous Studies, Scitech and SPICE.

Curriculum Consultant Jenny Gull will run workshops on some of the new SPICE resources, including Soft drink science, Forces and Cyclones, while Travelling Scientist Ryan Kempster does his best to answer questions from local students.

The festival runs from Thursday 4 – Saturday 6 April, 2013, at Kalgoorlie Town Hall.

SPICE workshops for year 7 science teachers offer you an opportunity to explore resources that have been specifically developed for the Australian Curriculum (Science). Workshops are a mix of practical activities, investigations of SPICE resources and, where appropriate, talks by UWA experts. The SPICE resources are freely available to teachers in Australia and New Zealand.

Addressing Physical Sciences and Astronomy

SPIRIT (10 April, 9-12pm)

The SPICE Physics ICRAR Internet Telescope Project (SPIRIT) allows schools to access the same tools used by researchers and astronomers to observe astronomical objects. This workshop provides you with the information you need to allow your students to control an internet telescope and take images of distant astronomical objects such as galaxies and nebulae, using nothing more than an Internet browser.

Life in the Solar System (10 April, 1-3pm)

An exploration of where life is found on Earth leads to an investigation of the conditions for life. Conditions within the Solar System are related to past missions to explore for life. This workshop includes an opportunity to explore the learning objects developed for the resource.

Forces (15 April, 9-12pm)

A new SPICE resource is designed to support teachers and students in their understanding of forces and the effects they may have on objects. This workshop will include an opportunity to try out the practical activities.

Addressing Biological Sciences

Feeding relationships (15 April, 1-3pm)

This SPICE resource looks at feeding relationships in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and how they may be represented through food chains and food webs. Impacts of introduced species, specifically cane toads, are also examined. Electronic resources such as 2 mobile device apps will be demonstrated and we hope to include a talk by a UWA expert.

Addressing Chemical Sciences

Soft drink science (5 June, 9-3pm)

The science behind soft drinks provides a context for looking at the states of matter: solid, liquid and gas. Animated representations of the particle model are used to explain how separation techniques work. This workshop includes a laboratory session in a UWA chemistry lab where you will be able to practice a number of separation techniques. We also hope to include a talk by a UWA researcher.

Addressing Earth and Space Sciences

Soil science (6 June, 9-12pm)

This workshop is designed to give teachers an introduction to the importance of soil fauna in the health and productivity of soils. There will be an introduction from a soil science researcher before hands-on practice of techniques required to sample and extract fauna from soil using simple equipment that can employed in schools. The session will allow teachers to explore the multimedia resources produced by the SPICE program, as well as find out about the student/scientist partnership research program that can be used to extend students’ skills and knowledge in the soil science context.

Geology Museum (6 June, 1-3pm)

The workshop, held in the Geology Museum at UWA, will focus on resource usage and sustainability. Included will be a discussion and activity that looks at combining the raw materials of minerals and rocks to create a sustainable end product.

SPICE operates the two SPIRIT telescopes and has several curriculum resources that use astronomy as a context.

Links

Contact us if you would like to know more about the SPIRIT initiative or use of SPICE curriculum resources.

This sequence looks at feeding relationships in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and how they may be represented through food chains and food webs. Impacts of introduced species, specifically cane toads, are also examined.

The sequence contains six resources: Animal interactions, Predators and prey, Food webs, Impact of cane toads, Managing cane toads and Kimberley creations.

Sample material

Download Feeding relationships Purchase Feeding relationships

Students use data about tropical cyclones to raise questions, find patterns and make predictions about their occurrence. Potential impacts of climate change on tropical cyclones are raised.

The sequence contains four resources: Looking at cyclones; Exploring tropical cyclones; Predicting tropical cyclones; and Modelling climate.

Sample material

Download Cyclones Purchase Cyclones

A chart showing the moon phases for the entire 2013 calendar year can be found by clicking here.

Or, click on the following links for monthly charts which include rise and set times for the sun and moon.

January  February  March  April  May  June  July  August  September  October  November  December