Year 12 results at the Australian Science and Mathematics School at Bedford Park again reflect high standards – and strong ties with Flinders University.
ASMS Principal Susan Hyde said there were many valuable interactions with Flinders University academics, students and facilities which supported academic and other positive outcomes at the resident high school.
“The contribution of the University to enrich the education of ASMS students and the development of our staff has been significant this year, and particularly our relationship with the team at Tonsley,” she says.
This included regular contact with scientists by nine of the high school students; work experience with the computer sciences team, with associate lecturers Romana Challans and Dr Simon Williams supporting a Girls in IT and cyber security course; and support from Flinders New Venture Institute and its BO$$ camp for young entrepreneurs.
A total 103 ASMS students received an ATAR, with the school’s 2015 dux Bill Voss, scoring a perfect 99.95 with merits in specialist math and chemistry. Zahra Ataie Ashtiani, who also achieved 99.95 with merits in chemistry and biology, Calvin Fancett with 99.55 and Jen Su with 99.25.
This year, 13 of the Year 12 students studied six different first-year topics at Flinders University – seven of them in physics, Ms Hyde says.
“Between them, they achieved 14 high distinctions, seven distinctions and five credits in semesters one and two.”
The creation of the ASMS Innovation Space www.inovspace.com also built links with Flinders with the development of the www.phonelabs.net, a hands-on teaching system to be further developed by Professor Jamie Quinton and Dr Maria Parappilly for the first-year university physics topics in the future.
ASMS physic consultant Sivam Krish says the novel system uses specially developed phone apps to conduct complex physics experiments in a fraction of the time.
“It really empowers students to conduct their own experiments in a faction of the time, covering the classical abstract problems in a visual and fun way,” says Dr Krish, an Adjunct Associate Professor from the University of Canberra.
Acceleration, measurement, frequency and sound (beta) are covered by the low-cost teaching program.