Oct 2008 - Morrison's Academy

Page 52 The Morrisonian | 07/08 Secondary
Science
Biology
As in previous sessions, pupils studying
biology have been involved in a
number of trips. These included a trip
to Kindrogan Field Centre, Enochdhu,
a visit to the Scottish Crop Research
institute at Invergowrie and a visit to
the Sports Physiology Lab at Abertay
University.
In early October the Advanced
Higher Biology group visited
Kindrogan. This gives them a chance
to attempt some basic fieldwork
techniques and then carry out their
long term investigations. The pupils
made good use of this opportunity
and worked very well during the
weekend, despite the competing
attractions of the quarter finals of the
Rugby World Cup. Projects were
carried out in woodland, river and
pond. We also surmounted the
challenge of placing out 50 pitfall
traps in the pitch dark with only a few
rather insipid torches to help us. We
received invaluable assistance,
throughout the weekend, from the
tutors at Kindrogan especially the
main tutor, Rich, who was a big hit
with the pupils. Our thanks to them.
In November, the same group visited
the Scottish Crop Research Institute at
Invergowrie. They were given the
opportunity to see and hear at first
hand about some examples of
cutting edge research in cell biology.
Experimental techniques were
demonstrated to the pupils which
dovetailed with the theory which they
had covered in school. The day also
offered an opportunity to get involved
in discussion of some of the ethical
considerations of genetic
modification.
The final trip took place in the Spring
term. The class visited the Sports
Science Department at Abertay
University, where they took part in a
number of tests of their physiological
capabilities. These included the effect
of exercise on ECG and blood
pressure and the effect of fatigue on
muscle power output. The pupils also
did sub-maximal testing using a
walking shuttle test and then again
on exercise bikes. This allowed them
to estimate their levels of cardiovascular
fitness. Michael Basford was
volunteered to do the maximal test (to
exhaustion) on a treadmill to measure
his VO2 max. Once again Andrea
Cameron and her staff at Abertay
provided a memorable day out for
these pupils. Our thanks goes to
them for their time, their expertise and
the use of their facilities.
We invited, through the Setpoint
Scheme, a visiting speaker to talk to
our pupils about “Research into Bone
and Osteoporosis”. We are grateful to
Dr Fraser Coxon from Aberden
University for taking time out to travel
down and deliver this talk. He was
able to provide pupils with an insight
into current research initiatives and
show them some fantastic images of
bone at a microscopic level. We
hope to make further use of the
Setpoint Scheme in the future, The
Scheme encourages the
development of links between schools
and universities and offers visiting
speakers and demonstrations on a
large number of science topics at a
range of levels.
J Beedie
S Harper