UNE Discovery | Instagram feed

@unediscovery

Feeling social? Our handle is @unediscovery + see #uneboilerhouse

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🐝 Plants, Poop and Pollinators 🐝
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Here’s one of our activities that can’t be introduced without a giggle - Plants, Poop and Pollinators! .
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Although they are only pint-sized, insects and other invertebrates include some of the most diverse and important groups of animals on the planet. Insects provide essential ecosystem services such as pollination and nutrient recycling, and are crucial to our own survival. This activity explores the physical and behavioural features of invertebrates, and investigates the ecosystem services (and disservices) that they provide. Students will use stereo microscopes to observe beneficial and pest insects, and then take part in a role-playing game exploring how insects recycle nutrients in the environment.
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Curious? Have our team visit your school or event! Head to the link in our bio to discover more.
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#discovery #unediscoveryvoyager #steam #stem #playbased #handson #pollinators #poo #dungbeetles #plants #ecosystems #entomology #stereo #microscope #smallschools #bigschools #lowses #poop @simonscottphoto

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🎨 Living Latin 🎨
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It’s Friday! Have you got some creative plans lined up for your weekend? Our activities series wouldn’t be complete without one of our original hands-on, creativity based science activities - Living Latin! .
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There are millions of plants and animals on our planet, and scientists organise living things into different groups based on physical similarities to make sense of their function and evolution. These groups are given standardised names, making it easy for scientists all over the world to identify and properly classify plants and animals no matter what language they speak or where in the world they live. In this activity we look at what physical and behavioural features may be used to categorise animals, and learn some Latin words often used by scientists in naming them. Students make their own imaginary animal, name it according to Linnaeus’ Latin binomial system, and give it character, habitat and a story.
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To have our talented team of scientists and science communicators facilitate this activity with your students, head to the link in our bio.
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#discovery #unediscoveryvoyager #steam #stem #science #latin #creative #creating #naming #scientificnaming #binomial #art #storytelling

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🍎 Eating Energetics 🍎
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Crunching into week two of our activities series, we have Eating Energetics!
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Just like cars, our bodies need fuel to run! The energy we take in as food, and that we use up through everyday activity and exercise, represents an equation that must balance if our bodies are to stay healthy. This activity explores how the different foods we eat contain different amounts of energy, as well as different nutrients that we need for our bodies to work at their
best. Students will take part in a calorimetry experiment, releasing and measuring the chemical energy found in several types
of food. They will also assemble their favourite meals and, after engaging with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, fine-tune these to reflect a more balanced diet.
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All our activities align and extend concepts and content of the NSW syllabus. Want to learn more? Head to The link in our bio!
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #steam #stem #science #energy #nutrition #healthyeating #balaceddiet #colourfulfood #calorimetry #burn #play #handson #smallschools #bigschools

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🧪Creative Chemistry 🧪 .
To continue our activity series and to brighten your Friday with these adorable faces, we have Creative Chemistry!
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Ever wanted to tap in to your inner chemist? Here is your chance! In this activity, students will don lab coats and mix unknown substances into bubbling concoctions and colour changing creations. Students will investigate the outcomes of different chemical reactions, and how they relate to our every-day lives. Using their understanding of chemistry built within the lesson, students will seek to identify unknown substances, and experiment to explore chemical and physical interactions. They will then create colourful reactions to examine different chemical properties from pH to phase changes, thermal interactions of substances, gas production and precipitation, and use an investigative approach to predict, observe and explain what we behold (K-10).
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To learn more about UNE Discovery, and to have our team of passionate scientists and science communicators visit your school or event, head to the link in our bio. .
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #steam #stem #science #chemistry #explosions #reactions #colourful #surprise #curious #collaboration #elephantstoothpaste #ph #phtest

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Alllll the science ladies!
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It's the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and we want to celebrate all the amazing women that are part of our Discovery team and the wider UNE community. We're not in this alone, and the collaboration between our researchers, educators and everyone in between highlights the big strides we have made in STEAM, and strong shifts we are making towards more inclusive environments. Be curious, follow your passions and don't let any stereotype get in the way.
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It wouldn't be possible to list all the females that belong in this post. Instead, head over to @unescience to view their showcase of just some of the women at UNE dedicating their careers to science. .
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #steam #stem #science #womeninscience #womeninscienceday #collaboration #research #education #breakingbarriers

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🤖 Busybots 🤖
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Over the next few weeks, we’ll be showcasing Discovery activities on our socials to give you a taste of all we have to offer. STEAM’ing into week one, we have Busybots!
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In our digital age, new technologies are changing the way we live, communicate and work, and coding is key to understanding, navigating and manipulating this new world around us. From the dials on your dishwasher to the phone in your pocket, coding works behind the scenes to make our everyday lives more seamless, convenient and efficient. In this activity, students will learn the basic principles of coding, using computational thinking to break down complex instructions into small steps. They will program their own robots to navigate their way through different environments, exploring how humans can use automated machines to discover inaccessible places, and carry out tasks requiring accuracy and precision.
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To learn more about UNE Discovery, and to have our team of passionate scientists and science communicators visit your school or event, head to the link in our bio.
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #steam #stem #science #coding #robots #uncharted #territories #smallschools #bigschools #curiouskids

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Are you curious to know more about our activities, play-based philosophies and curriculum links? Join us on our socials over the next few weeks as we explore our new and existing activities, and find out what our little creatures are all about!
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To learn more about UNE Discovery, and to have our team of scientists and science communicators visit your school or event, head to the link in our bio. .
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #steam #science #characters #creatures #kids #schools #playbasedlearning #handsonscience #smallschools #bigschools #curiouskids

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BOOKINGS ARE OPEN FOR 2020
We’ve planned, played and polished our new and existing activities to bring you a 2020 calendar, eager to be filled by those ready to taken their STEAM learning experiences to the next level in terms two, three and four!
With 15 exciting hand-on activities, including five new additions, join us as we: 🚀Explore our Solar System in Astrometrics
🛀🏽 Understand your role in conserving water in DroughtWise: Saving for a Rainy Day
🌱Go deep underground and learn about the amazing life beneath in A Day in the Life of Soil
⛰Navigate our geological landscapes in Think Like a Rock, and turn back time as we discover fossils and geological rock formations throughout the ages in Rocking Through Time.

The Discovery Voyager team comes to you, wherever you are in Northern NSW, with interactive, curriculum-aligned activities grounded in science, but limited only by your imagination.
Head to the link in our bio for more information - we can’t wait to hear from you!
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#unediscoveryvoyager #unediscovery #steam #stem #science #bookingsopen #playbased #handson #curiouskids #smallschools #bigschools #astronomy #waterconservation #geology #soilscience @simonscottphoto

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Hey Kids! Are you looking for some end of school holiday STEAM inspired fun?! To coincide with the exhibition Experimenta: Make Sense, we’re teaming up with NERAM to bring you some hands-on, interactive and play-based experiences TOMORROW AT 10:30am and 2:00pm.
From programming robots through uncharted territories, to reading your own brain waves; discovering all there is to know about sound, and creating and naming an undiscovered creature - there’s something for everyone!
Jump on to the NERAM website for more information and to secure your position! .
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #neram #collaboration #science #steam #schoolholiday #curiouskids #handson #playbased

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30 budding palaeontologists joined us in the Natural History Museum this morning, discovering prehistoric life forms and undertaking a dig of their own to determine a mystery creature (pictured). Thanks to the PCYC for bringing them along! .
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #unenaturalhistorymuseum #naturalhistorymuseum #palaeontology #fossils #prehistoric #ancientlifeforms #rabbit #skeleton #holidayactivity

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| ConocoPhillips Science Experience - Day 3 |

23 curious students, 21 inspiring scientists and demonstrators, 18 meters of sausage made, 17 kilometres walked around campus, 9 sessions, and 3 fantastic days. Weary eyed, but full of exciting STEM stories, we farewelled our ConocoPhillips team for another year. An enormous thank you to everyone that made the camp possible. The students feedback and engagement is testament to the importance of such programs, with the impact having lasting effects on all participants. We’re already looking forward to the 2021 Experience!
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#science #stem #steam #unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #sciencecamp #scienceexperience #pathology #careers #sciencecareers

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| ConocoPhillips Science Experience - Day 2 |

Another jam packed day here at UNE with our young scientists. From exploring the ins and outs of our poultry industry, to discovering how to make the perfect sausage and all our CART facilities have to offer, the students had a great insight into the agricultural happenings of UNE. The afternoon took a little physiological turn as we delved into digestion and the amazing brain, breaking down our food in fork to poo and dissecting brains in neuroscience.
All scientists need a wind down at times, and Dumaresq dam set the scene for a country getaway as we explored the foothills of Mount Duval and met great competition in the inaugural CPSE football game.
Tomorrow is the final day of the experience, although we’re not quite finished with the students yet - more STEAM to come! .
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#science #discovery #unediscovery #conocophillipsscienceexperience #steam #stem #poultry #agriculture #meatscience #sausages #lamb #beef #digestion #physiology #poo #neuroscience #amazingbrain #disections #nature

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| ConocoPhillips Science Experience - Day One |

What a day! After welcoming our 23 students on campus for the three day STEAM extravaganza, we purified crystalline structures in chemistry, tested strength and agility in sports and exercise science, and discovered some of the mini beasts that make up our campus’ ecosystem, as well as the interconnecting relationships between them.
And with two days to go, our curious young scientists can’t wait to see what else we have in store! Watch this space.
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#discovery #unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #science #steam #stem #chemistry #sport #exercise #entomology #ecology #curiosity #creativity #climbing

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With school visits finished for 2019, the team are already busy preparing for next year! Between cosmetic procedures on the giant ear, activity planning, rock sorting and brain building, the Disco lab is filled with the rich scent of creativity and collaboration. Big things are coming in 2020 - watch this space!
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #steam #stem #science #handsonlearning #playbasedlearning #creativity #collaboration #modelmaking #programdevelopment #endofyear #

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Do you love Science? Will you be in years 9-11 in 2020?

UNE is once again hosting the ConocoPhillips Science Experience - a great opportunity for students of ALL abilities to experience uni life - staying at college, running experiments with UNE scientists, and experiencing the state-of-the-art agricultural and sporting facilities UNE has to offer!

Scholarships are available through your local Rotary group! Get in touch with them for more information.
Check out the link on our Facebook page to secure your place!
#stem #steam #science #unediscovery #conocophillipscienceexperience #science #ecology #agriculture #physiology #neuroscience #exerciseandsportsscience #regionalopportunities #curiouskids

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It was a dry, blustery Friday that saw the inaugural Steampunk Night at the Boilerhouse launched in full effect! What an incredible turn out - dress ups, curious people, and fun to be had with science, music, food and drinks. .
A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who made this night happen, and to The Abbott Foundation, Wyndham Family Trust and NSW Government for boosting this project into our reality. With a tenacious team anything is possible.
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Watch this space for more opportunities to get creative in the UNE Boilerhouse in 2020.
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#uneboilerhouse #unediscovery #learningthroughplay #anightattheboilerhouse #steampunk #regionalnsw

Fantastic photos once again by Simon Scott.

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Students from Coffs Harbour High who took part in the MiniBeast Hunt at Far Out Science last week made a big Discovery! While collecting insects for identification at UNE, they found a moth that was a little bit special…

UNE Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr Manu Saunders, who ran the MiniBeast Hunt workshop, identified the moth as Tortricopsis uncinella – a species that, until last week, had never been documented north of Canberra!
Visit www.inaturalist.org/observations/35436347 to discovery more.
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#citizenscience #insects #invertebrates #distribution #unediscovery #discovery #handsonlearning #science #steam #stem #futurescientist #education

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1000 curious students, 62 inspiring facilitators, 27 energetic guides, over 20 amazing behind-the-scenes staff and 2 enormous days - that’s Far Out Science for 2019!
Students measured pulses, burned elements and stretched slime; magnified insects, discovered new creatures, re-built T-Rex and sped through timing gates; exploded balloons, analysed biomass, uncovered mystery substances and experimented with gastronomy; observed our bloods soldiers in action, engineered motors, extracted DNA and made some poo!! These were just some of the fantastic activities students were able to be a part of, learning through play and uncovering scientific wonders - all on campus in Armidale. An enormous thank you to everyone who made the days possible - we can’t wait to do it all again with you next year!
*Photos courtesy of the talented Simon Scott
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#unediscovery #discovery #learningthroughplay #handsonlearning #science #steam #stem #futurescientist #education

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It’s all systems go for the Disco crew as they prepare for a STEAM’tacular few days ahead. The UNE campus will be buzzing with curious minds, with three massive events being held.

Tomorrow and Friday we will welcome over 1000 primary and secondary students to get their science hands dirty at Far Out Science! The event aims to inspire students, allowing for critical and creative thinking in a fun, play-based environment.
But, let’s not forget the adults. On Friday a night, UNE Discovery will be hosting a once in a lifetime chance to explore the Boilerhouse before it is closed for construction of the Boilerhouse Discovery Centre! An ADULT ONLY steampunk inspired evening featuring dinner, drinks, music, STEAM activities, aerial performance, history and more.
And to top it all off, Discovery will be joining forces with Shell Questacon for their fabulous Science Circus! SportUNE's Campbell Hall will be overflowing with exciting hands-on science exhibits when their colourful semi-trailer rolls into town for an exhibition of their ‘pop-up’ science centre.

We’re so excited for the next few days, and would love it if you could join us for a journey of curiosity into the ever-amazing world of science!!
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#steam #stem #une #unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #faroutscience #playbasedlearning #play #science #students #curiosity #creativity #criticalthinking

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Soils: healthy soils are the foundation for ecosystems; the foundation of agriculture; the foundation of the planet; the foundation for life. 🌱🌱
What's in a soil? Chemical makeup, physical properties, and abundance of life, invite endless exploration... Deepwater Public School students helped us discover the magic of soils on Friday. 🌱🌱
#unediscovery
#unediscoveryvoyager
#scienceeducation
#STEAM
#science
#lifetimelearning
#the5Cs
#smallschools
#becurious
#Deepwater

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Don't forget this weekend UNE's stunning Natural History Museum is open as part of the @artsnorthwest Art Connections arts trail!

Saturday + Sunday, 11am - 3pm

Experience the wonder and extraordinary variety of the animals, minerals and fossils on display and ask questions of our Discovery team. The Museum is free and open to the public regularly on week days, but why not take this chance to come and have a look?

To check out the Arts Trail in full, find more at www.artsnw.com.au

#unediscovery #unenaturalhistorymuseum #artsnorthwest #science #arts #STEAM #discovery

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Running wild and setting things on fire at #newlingpublicschool this week... All in a day's work with #unediscovery!! 🔥🔥🔥 Our Voyager program delivers exploratory, hands-on, creative ways for children to immerse themselves in their natural love of science and the world around them: everything from running their own chemistry experiments, to demonstrating the behaviour of soundwaves, bot programming, trialling agility courses, and more. Getting involved in this way enhances children's learning: because doing it yourself, getting it wrong, getting dirty, asking any questions you want, and having the autonomy to make your own curious, creative choices are the best ways to open the mind's doors to new understandings.
#unediscoveryvoyager #newengland #scienceeducation #handsonscience #STEAM #stem #science #technology #engineering #arts #maths #learning #universityofnewengland #schools #sciencecommunication

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This is a once in a lifetime chance to explore the UNE Boilerhouse before it is closed for construction of the Boilerhouse Discovery Centre!
An ADULT ONLY steampunk inspired evening featuring dinner, drinks, music, STEAM activities, aerial performance, history and more.
The UNE Discovery team are joining forces with the Shell Questacon Science Circus to offer hands-on science activities including tea bag rockets, hands on fire, marshmallow cannon, hand cuff escape, paper snake races, and spun chairs.

Tickets are $50 pp, and include a drink upon arrival, dinner and molecular gastronomy tasters. The Scientific Drinks Lab will be demonstrating the chemistry of mouthwatering mixtures throughout the evening, and there’ll be music until 10pm.

Learn more about the history of the Boilerhouse, what’s been happening recently and plans for the future.
Steampunk dress if you dare! But please NO HIGH HIGH HEELS! This is a ticketed event and spots are limited to the first 200 sold... once they’re gone, they’re gone!
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryboilerhouse #boilerhouse #steampunk #discovery #handsonlearning #science #steam #play

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Sprinting into Monday like...
Stratford Public School today!
With a grand total of eight students, the team had a great day discovering exercise and sports science, chemistry, coding and neuroscience. Thanks for having us once again Stratford!
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#smallschools #unediscovery #discoveryvoyager #steam #stem #science #sportscience #chemistry #swiftlightsystem #beebots #neuro #mindfulness

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UNE Discovery Leader Dr Kirsti Abbott spoke to Future Focus reporter Simon Bourke recently about the Discovery Voyager program and the demand for play based experiences in STEAM education in regional NSW. .
Listen to their conversation here! www.futurefocusproject.com.au/story/6436848/podcast-the-science-of-inspiration-exploration/?cs=14744
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #learningthroughplay #futurefocus #regionalNSW #collaboration #curiosity #confidence #creativity #candoattitude