Year 9 Science Excursion | Biomimicry: Design by Nature
Earlier this Term, the Year 9 cohort had the privilege of travelling to the Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens as a part of their Biomimicry Science unit. On this excursion, students had the opportunity to gain first-hand experience on taking engineering inspiration from nature, as well as learning from professionals who expertly guided them through different activities. It was a day of laughter and valuable education, and certainly one that we will not forget soon!
We walked the short distance from our school to the Botanical Gardens, enjoying the sunlight and the unique sights of the city. Upon arrival, we were welcomed by friendly staff who led us to our first activity of the day. We were given various tools, like binoculars and microscopes, to aid us in our discovery of miniscule details of the so-called “ordinary things” we are so used to. At this stop, students learnt about the hidden mysteries and wonders of mother nature, and the techniques and designs nature has developed in order to survive. Some classes even had the privilege of seeing cicada exoskeletons!
Afterwards, students were given an application task, where they split off into groups to discover the purpose of different adaptations of plants and animals. For example, we learned that many trees have tough and sharp leaves to fend off potential animals that would eat them. The whole class collaborated enthusiastically when sharing their discoveries, many of these being more unique and hidden than we could have ever imagined!
After lunch, we had our final activity of the day, where different classes took inspiration from various plants in the Botanical Gardens, and created new engineering inventions. For example, the class of 9J was assigned the Grass Tree, a unique plant that has many concealed features. If the plant detected smoke, spores would be released into the air, in order to ensure that new life would begin. There were many different designs, like a sprinkler system that would go off after detecting smoke! It was a completely new experience for many of us, and we learnt the importance of biomimicry and to what extent nature has adapted to survive.
Overall, our visit to the Royal Botanical Gardens was both interesting and informative, helping many students further their understanding of our topic in science. We thank the science teachers for making this experience possible for the cohort, allowing us to form memories that we’ll never forget!
Rachel Pan & Elise Ho (9J)