Year 9 Students Tackle Future City Challenges at Sydney Science Park

On Thursday 22May Year 9 students ventured to the Greenfield site of the future Sydney Science Park development by Celestino. This is a key component of their Sydney Science Park Geography Project where they will be developing a solution for one of the problem statements below:

Problem Statement 1

Designing a Heat Safe Playground

Develop a playground design that ensures safety from heat and minimises the urban heat island effect. The playground must cater for a range of age groups and consider the climatic extremes of the development area. 

Problem Statement 2

Choosing Plants for a Green Roof

Find suitable plant species (2-3) for a green roof design on a commercial building, considering climatic factors, maintenance, and cost-effectiveness 

Problem Statement 3

Selecting Outdoor Flooring to Reduce Heat

Determine a suitable outdoor tile or flooring surface for streetscapes that can reduce floor heat and mitigate the urban heat island effect. 

Problem Statement 4

Finding a suitable tree for 40% Canopy Cover Near an Airport

Identify a tree species that can achieve 40% canopy cover for the site while withstanding the climatic and human conditions of the development. The selected tree must be suitable for the local climate, resilient to human activities, and should not attract birds due to the site’s proximity to an airport 

During the excursion, students participated in a series of 10 engaging workshops and experiments. These activities provided a unique opportunity to interact with industry experts and observe the real-life application of their solutions and models.

This excursion also highlighted the importance of our School’s partnerships with industry leaders, which provide students with unique learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Additionally, the activities fostered essential soft skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving, preparing students for future academic and professional endeavours.

Here is a snapshot from students about the day:

‘I really enjoyed the immersive experience that Sydney Science Park provided. It was highly engaging, and the business educators taught us so much.’
– Minna Yates

‘I love how interactive each of the activities were. Every station offered a unique and engaging experience with different activity’s that taught us about heat in cities, water, the environment and more.’
– Lauren Carmody

‘I enjoyed the interactive exhibits at Sydney Science Park, they made learning more fun and engaging.’
– Soumya Kacchipat

A huge thank you to the Human Society and It’s Environment (HSIE) staff that attended the excursion despite the rain the students gained a valuable learning experience with your support.

– Danielle Rodrigues
Head of Department – Human Society and It’s Environment (HSIE)

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