EngagEChallEngEaChiEvECOnnECT:lEaRning laBS

An enrichment progrAm for high Achieving students in YeArs 7 to 10JAnuArY 17th & 18th 2013

ApplicAtion deAdline: fridAY 23rd november 2012scholArship ApplicAtion deAdline: fridAY 16th november 2012www.uow.edu.au/educ/learninglabs

WhaT yOu nEEd TO knOWDuration: 2 days

Date: Thursday 17th and Friday 18th January, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Fee: $135

Where: University of Wollongong Campus

What to bring: morning tea, lunch, drink, hat, sunscreen and stationery supplies

For Years 7 to 10, curriculum pitched at a Year 11/12 level

LEARNING LABS is an academic enrichment program for students in years 7 to 10. We are offering workshops that cover a range of academic fields. The program will be held at the Wollongong Campus and each workshop will be developed and presented by University academics who are leaders in their field. Workshops will be innovative, challenging and aim to stimulate the interests of high achieving students. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to socialise with like-minded peers within a university setting. We look forward to meeting you!

HoW To AppLy1. Fill out the application form on the back of this brochure2. Select only the workshops you wish to attend. List them in order of preference. Only apply for the workshops you are interested in, and

prepared to attend. If only one workshop appeals to you, only apply for that one workshop. We endeavor to place everyone in their first choice, however, if the workshop is full then we will place you in a workshop of lower preference. You will only attend ONE workshop over the 2 day period.

3. Please attach one copy of supporting documentation outlined in the Selection Criteria box below.4. Please attach anaphylactic or asthma management plans where necessary. 5. Please attach sponsorship letter if you are applying for sponsorship.6. Fill out payment method and attach a cheque or money order if

selected.7. Read the Terms, Conditions and Refund Policy section below.8. DEADLINE for application forms is due by Friday 23rd

November 2012, either post your forms to:Sarah SmithFaculty of EducationBuilding 67, Level 3University of Wollongong NSW 2522oRScan PDF and email to: sarsmith@uow.edu.auPlease keep a copy of your application form.

SCHoLARSHIp AppLICATIoNS DUE FRIDAy 16TH NovEmBER

SCHoLARSHIpS

LEARNING LABS can offer a limited number of full fee scholarships to those families who are experiencing financial hardship. If you would like to apply for a full fee scholarship please supply a brief letter explaining your circumstances together with your application form.

SCHoLARSHIpS FoR ABoRIGINAL/ToRRES STRAIT ISLANDERS

There are limited scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. If you identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander please indicate so on the application form and tick the scholarship box.

Applications for scholarships are due on the Friday 16th November 2012. Scholarship applicants who are unsuccessful will still be offered a fee paying placement in a workshop as an option.

Please note that scholarships only cover the cost of the program. Participants are responsible for their own travel and lunch costs.

SELECTIoN CRITERIA FoR LEARNING LABS

Students who qualify and would benefit most from the program need to fulfill ONE or more of the following requirements:

- Teacher nomination confirming that the student is capable of working at a Year 11/12 level in their field of interest

- A Distinction or High Distinction in the Australian Schools Science, Math or English Competitions

- An academic scholarship of some description

- Placement in a self contained class for academically gifted students (eg. Selective high school)

- A score within the top band of the relevant aspect in the NAPLAN test.

please attach copies of any supporting documentation with application form.

TERmS, CoNDITIoNS & REFUNDS

- LEARNING LABS must be advised in writing of all cancellations and withdrawals

- Cancellations more than 10 working days prior to the workshop will incur a $55 fee

- Cancellations less than 10 working days prior to workshops will not be refunded. Full fee applies.

- LEARNING LABS reserves the right to cancel workshops and change workshop details if deemed appropriate.

- Parents/Guardians are responsible for making sure the student meets the selection criteria.

While we would like to allocate every student who applies, this may not be possible due to limited number of workshops. If this is the case, places will be allocated on the grounds of equity and need. Students who miss out for January’s program will get priority placement for the following holiday program.

**Successful applicants will be notified by mail**

JanuaRy WORkShOPSCrImEs AgAINst PEoPLE AND ProPErty: WhAt’s INvoLvED IN ProvINg somEoNE Is guILtypresenter: professor Elena marchetti, Faculty of LawSo many television shows are about investigating crimes and what happens in court when someone is charged with committing an offence. There is (and possibly always has been) a fascination with solving crimes. There are many criminal laws in our statutes and common law, but in this workshop you will be looking at three areas of the New South Wales criminal justice system: the law of homicide, non-fatal offences against the person and property offences. You will learn what elements comprise each type of offence, what excuses or defences might be raised, and what level of proof is required before someone is found guilty. Over the two days you will get the opportunity to solve cases, debate issues and think about whether someone really should be found guilty in certain circumstances. If you decide to do this workshop be prepared to think, argue and have fun!

FACIAL APProxImAtIoN: Art, ANAtomy & thE skuLLpresenter: Dr Susan Hayes, Faculty of ScienceThis workshop will be an intensive introductory experience in a 3D laboratory. Working in pairs you will use clay to build up the muscles, glands, fat and skin over a cast of a unique human skull, all the while learning about the scientific methods involved in both archaeological and forensic facial approximations.Dr Hayes is a facial anthropologist and her research specialty is facial approximation, or the likely facial appearance of the deceased based on what is known about the skull and its soft tissue (sometimes called facial reconstruction). After this workshop you will never look at a person’s face the same way again!

sustAINAbLE ENErgy ENgINEErINgpresenter: Brad Stappenbelt, Faculty of EngineeringWith mounting evidence regarding the dire state of the world’s resources and the negative environmental impact of anthropogenic activity over the last century, the search for ways to meet our growing global energy demand in a sustainable manner is becoming increasingly urgent. Many of the associated technological fields are still in their infancy and much of this development is testing the limits of our current engineering capabilities. The next generation of engineers needs to be fully conversant with the challenges surrounding sustainability and equipped with the tools to effectively address these.In this workshop we will explore various renewable energy technologies utilising wind, solar thermal, hydropower and ocean energy sources including wave, tidal and marine currents. Students will learn about the sustainability related engineering challenges we are likely to face in the future, energy resource availability and energy conversion mechanisms. Students will be actively involved in a number of experiments using the Faculty of Engineering SMART facility wind tunnel, solar thermal energy test rigs (a flat plate and a concentrator solar collector), ocean engineering laboratory facilities (consisting of a 25m wave tank and model towing carriage) and other hydrodynamics related equipment in the fluid mechanics laboratory.The core activities undertaken by students throughout the workshop will focus on the design, construction and testing (under a range of wind, current and wave conditions) of a floating wind turbine model. Working individually and in small teams, students will explore and apply the engineering method, hydrostatic and dynamic stability analysis of floating structures, forces and moments, aerodynamics of aerofoils, wave hydrodynamics, insolation and much more. And of course, we will have a lot of fun in the process. This workshop deals with complex mathematical concepts suitable for Year 9 and 10 students only

CrEAtIvE WrItINg For bEgINNErs AND bEyoNDpresenter: Timothy Daly, Faculty of Creative ArtsThe basis of a powerful contemporary writing style lies in using language in a fresh and innovative way. This practical, hands-on workshop gives you dozens of techniques to use, regardless of the medium you’re most interested in. Special attention is given to short story, short film, poetry and theatre writing. Led by one of Australia’s most experienced teachers of writing, the multi-award-winning playwright Timothy Daly, this workshop is suited to both smart beginners and committed writers.

DIy gmos - ExPLorINg gENEtIC ENgINEErINg presenter: Dr Tracey Kuit, Faculty of ScienceGenetically modified organisms (GMOs) are being used as food sources, in waste management and to produce medicines and vaccines. This workshop introduces students to the fundamental principles of genetic engineering. Students will participate in hands-on experiments with GMOs in well equipped facilities at the University of Wollongong. Students will explore the concepts of DNA isolation, and the production and identification of a recombinant organism. Students will also explore some real-life examples in this hotly debated area of research.

thE PoWEr oF mAkE-bELIEvE: AN ACtor IN ACtIoN.presenter: Jackson Davis, Faculty of Creative ArtsThis practical workshop introduces you to the imagination of the theatrical space. As performers you will begin building those elements key to sustaining yourselves as creative artists: an awareness of the body, engaging with theatrical texts and an appreciation of the elements of production. Over the two days you’ll be working hands-on with all the materials required for the creation of exciting, original and personal work: lights, music, design and (of course) yourselves.

INDustrIAL robotICspresenter: Nathan Larkin, Faculty of EngineeringIndustrial robots are used extensively in manufacturing worldwide. From packing biscuits to welding trucks, a robot is often used as a flexible and efficient automation device. In this workshop students will interact will typical industrial robots, learning how they work and how to program them. Using these skills students will create robot programs to accomplish some fun and practical tasks.

horrIbLE, ExCItINg AND hugELy AWEsomE hIstorIEs- or IF hIstory Is About truth AND FACts, Why Is thErE so muCh ArgumENt?presenter: Dr Glenn mitchell, Faculty of ArtsThese workshops will take several historical events, turn them into a puzzling problem, unpack them and then repack them in creative, challenging and thoroughly entertaining ways. They will be exciting introductions to important areas of history and historical research; How do we ask questions and get good answers; what is evidence; where can we find it; why do historians disagree? The workshops will include (time permitting); the assassination of President Kennedy; the mystery of the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia; who was Juanita Nielsen and what happened to her?; the Eureka Rebellion and the British Nuclear tests at Maralinga in South Australia.

sECurE CommuNICAtIoN IN A PubLIC WorLDpresenter: Dr Luke mcAven, Faculty of Informatics“Security” is a complex collection of interrelated social, technical and mathematical problems. In this workshop we’ll be exploring some of those problems. There’ll be lots of questions:What is communication? What is security? How do we share secrets? How do we measure information? What is a big number? When is a problem hard? What shape are spheres? Who are Alice and Bob? Why is Oscar a grouch? And where’s Wally? There’ll be some answers too! We’ll use some maths, some computers, our brains, and lots of paper.

ENErgy, CLImAtE ChANgE, AND your ChAotIC WorLDpresenter: Dr George Takacs, School of Engineering physicsThis workshop will apply the fundamentals of physics to address why some systems can behave in a chaotic and unpredictable ways. Is this important, and should you be concerned? How is this related to climate change? In this workshop we will answer these questions by computer modelling of simple non-linear systems that exhibit chaotic behaviour. Then we will move on to the importance of energy to human society, and examine some of the physics behind climate change. We will end by looking at long term changes in the variability of our climate and relate these changes back to our study of non-linear systems.

INtroDuCtIoN to bLoggINgpresenter: marcus o’Donnell, Faculty of Creative ArtsBlogs are the simplest way of starting your own website. If you like writing or photography, blogging is a great way to share your ideas with friends, family and the world. Blogs are used by journalists, travellers, writers, politicians, organisations, and just about anyone who has something to communicate.This workshop will teach you the basics of setting up a blog and help you work through a series of exercises to start filling it with interesting content. We will develop both written stories and photostories and look at the way blogs can be used in association with other online social media like facebook and twitter. Blogging is a fun way to share your ideas and is an increasingly important skill in a range of professions.

sEgmENts, JoINts AND musCLEs: INvEstIgAtINg hoW WE movE...presenter: Dr paul Stapley, Neural Control of movement Laboratory, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. Ever wondered what is involved in executing the movements that we perform during our everyday lives and which we often take for granted? Even the simple act of reaching out to grasp a cup of water involves the activation of many muscles and movements of body segments and joints with the right timing and coordination so as to achieve the desired, accurate end result. When voluntary movements are executed during standing, numerous muscles are activated in the reaching arm to grasp a target and throughout the rest of the body to stabilise posture and balance. This learning lab will introduce you to a number of techniques used to quantify human movement. We will explore how the body moves using kinematics; the movement in three dimensional space of the body segments. We will measure and quantify the muscle activity of a number of muscles using surface electromyography; a technique used to record the electrical activity produced by the muscles. Finally, we will introduce you to how the human brain commands the muscles and segments of the body and relate that theoretical information to what is recorded in the laboratory. The workshop will be made up of short theoretical lectures and practical workshops.

EyEs hANDs AND mINDspresenter: Kim Williams, Faculty of Creative ArtsThis two-day workshop opens the Visual Arts Studios to students to give them a taste of the Visual Arts programs and working with Faculty lecturers. We start with a drawing workshop that introduces students to different drawing techniques while drawing from a life Model. In the afternoon the students will continue to sketch from the human figure but will be working with clay. The second day will focus on printing and mixed media collage. Students will explore a range of materials and processes that will engage the eyes, the hands and the minds.

PhILosoPhICAL DILEmmAspresenter: Dr Jane Lymer, Faculty of ArtsPhilosophy is the study ofthe truth of, and the principles upon which, we base our lives and actions. In this workshop you will be asked to ‘do’ philosophy by learning about and then debating some contemporary social issues. In the first debate we will ask if we ought to always use Human Rights as the guiding principle for our actions. In the second we will examine if advertising to children is ethical. In the third we will ask if we should give more moral consideration to animals and in the final debate we will ask if we should allow research into the genetic enhancement of human beings.

AppLICATIoN FoRm JANUARy 2013 Please use one application form per student. DEADLINE due by Friday 23rd November 2012

First Name: Surname:

Address: Postcode:

Phone: Email:

School: Year: D/O/B:

Male Female Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander: Yes No Have you attended this program before? Yes No

Parent/Guardian Name:

Phone: Email:

Workshop Preference: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Medication Required: Plan attached?: Yes No

Medicare No.: (in case of emergency)

Please specify any other special needs or requirements:

In your own words please let us know why you would like to attend these workshops:

pAymENT

Workshop fee is $135 for each student. Payments can only be made by cheque, money order, visa or mastercard. If cheques are rejected then it is up to the payee to reimburse any additional bank fees.

Credit card: Visa Mastercard Cheque Money order Scholarship (due 16th Nov)

Payment/supporting documentation/sponsorship letter attached: Yes No

Credit Card No.: Expiry: / /

Name on credit card:

I authorise $ to be deducted from my credit card

cardholders signature

pLEASE RETURN THIS To:

Sarah SmithFaculty of EducationBldg 67, level 3 University of Wollongong NSW 2522 OR SCAN AND EMAIL: sarsmith@uow.edu.auDuE by Friday 23rd November 2012

Please write the names of your workshop choices in order of preference. You will attend only one workshop.