Year 11 Biology Fieldtrip to Botany Bay

On Monday, July 1 2019, 80 Year 11 students participated in a field trip to Botany Bay to collect data for their Depth study task which is a part of the Preliminary Biology course. Prior to the excursion, we had to come up with scientific inquiry questions and prepared ourselves for an exciting one-day escape from school.

Despite an early start and a few latecomers, the Biology cohort had a smooth bus trip and soon arrived at their destination. Immediately, we felt the harsh winds coming from the North and some of us regretted our decision to conduct our investigations in the water, which was surely to be freezing. We were then split into groups and each group was led by an experienced instructor from Auseco to work on their chosen habitat in various locations. While the instructors went on to explain how to use the various equipment, we waited in anticipation to get our hands on all the promised fancy equipment.

Immediately after the explanation, there was a cluttered race for the limited equipment. Hands were full of dichotomous keys, pH meters and nets. Groups were then dispersed to our pre-ordained locations and rushed to gather the data we needed for our Depth Study within the 3 hour time slot. Students in groups were either slumped in the muddy mangroves, salt marsh or knee deep in the cold ocean water in order to collect the data. After a long day, everyone regrettably had to wrap up their experiments and prepare to leave. Many of us were muddy and rushed to the two toilet stalls in an attempt to change our clothes and shoes before the bus ride back to school. As the toilet lines died down, the teachers ushered us into the buses to be driven back to school after what was a very tiring day.

Thank you to all the teachers who organised the excursion (yea Ms Jamble) and the AUSECO instructors who assisted us throughout the day.

Crystal Pham