Day 1 at CONASTA 65 kicked off with Neil Menzies discussing “Is feeding the people costing us the Earth?” It was a fantastic way to begin the event as although he was discussing agricultural ideas and the impact of Nitrogen, many other fields of STEM were also incorporated and he spoke clearly about the calorie count consumption versus production count, which is slowly coming in line with each other and in the future there will be a deficit of food to human consumption.

After morning tea, we were into our workshops and first up – To the Stars! Adam Gilmour from Space Flight Academy came in to discuss a new hands on learning centre in Pimpama on the Gold Coast that will be able to provide students with first hand experience and information provided by many Space stations around the world. An interactive ‘playground’, giving students the chance to experience space.

During the afternoon Darren Hamley gave a fantastic presentation on innovative marine science projects suitable for the classroom. Research and conservation efforts that he does in reality are organized, discussed and researched by students in his class. Firstly, Darren spoke about Electrodeposition Artificial Reefs which could potentially grow coral 8-10 times faster than normal, understanding if dolphins have a unique resting echolocation like their own unique whistles and clicks and finally the effect of a damaged dorsal fin on swimming patterns (using 3D printing devices). Interestingly this final research was after a dolphin with a torn dorsal fin was given a final death report of a blood disorder, when in fact it’s stomach was empty and there was a greater possibility that the death was because the drag of the dorsal fin had increased and slowed down the dolphin while hunting.

These and many more filled the first day with a lot of content knowledge that are worth exploring further, while looking forward to the coming days of CONASTA 65.

Tori Lee

Griffith University

Upon completing Year 12, I moved to England where I worked at Lancing College for just over a year. I then returned to Australia to complete a Bachelor of Sports Coaching and Exercise Science at the University of Canberra before moving to the Gold Coast to begin my Graduate Diploma of Education – Secondary. I have worked with all age groups from pre-school through to elderly in schools, OSHC centres, dance studios, cheerleading organisations and many different sporting groups and knew that being around people and teaching was something that I loved to do. Since I began teaching dance at the age of 14, I knew that eventually one day I would become a teacher. While in England, it was evident how much I could impact so many people’s lives in such a short time and this made me think back on all the teachers that inspired myself and how I aspire to be like them. We are teaching the students of tomorrow’s world. They will be leading our future. Being a part of the process in developing these young minds excites me and I look forward to being a part of their future.