Year 11 Biology Excursion

Australian National Maritime Museum

Field Study Activities

On 6th of June, as Year 11 Biology students, we conducted a field study around Pyrmont Bay, assisted by the National Maritime Museum as part of our ongoing Depth Study. We participated in the Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics program, which included a self-guided tour through the museum, HMAS Onslow, and HMAS Vampire. We also conducted experiments on water quality around Darling Harbour with the support of museum educators.

Museum Observations

During the self-guided tours, we observed artefacts from pre-settlement times to the present day. On display were old cartography maps, instruments used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, models of ships, sailors’ trinkets from various wars, and more. Interactive features, such as movable periscopes providing a 360-degree viewing experience, enhanced our understanding of maritime history. We also boarded HMAS Onslow and HMAS Vampire, gaining firsthand insight into sailor life and the different compartments onboard.

Depth Study Data Collection

During the latter half of the day, we gathered data for our Depth Study by collecting water samples from Pyrmont Bay with the assistance of museum staff. Using these samples, we observed plankton through digital microscopes and used scientific instruments to measure and record various indicators of water quality.

In addition, we helped sort and count plastic pollution collected from the two Seabins located around Darling Harbour. We then evaluated the collected waste against specific criteria to determine which side of the harbour produced more pollution.

This excursion gave us a much deeper understanding of the interrelationships between marine biodiversity, pollution, and water quality—far beyond what we learn from textbook examples. We would like to thank Ms Jamble, Ms Nguyen, and Mr Alosise King for organising the excursion and supervising us on the day.

Wang Chen