College ventures into space

Horsham College will shoot for the stars at its annual science extravaganza event in celebration of the 50th anniversary of NASA’S 1969 moon-landing.

From 6pm to 8pm on August 14, the ‘Discovery Moon’ themed event will showcase a variety of science-based activities and student work as part of National Science Week.

College science learning area head Tara Crowe said augmented-reality space experiences and ‘astronaut tests’ would be one of many activities on the night, in addition to ‘traditional’ sherbet and explosions.

“It’s going to be an amazing night,” she said.

“We have two governmentfunded educational organisations coming along, The Victorian Space Science Education Centre and Earth Ed.

“The psychology faculty will be running mock astronaut tests, and Nicholas Rigas will be doing his explosive chemistry which is well-loved.

“There will also be a rocket on a zip-line which will fly through every now and then.”

Mrs Crowe said the event, which attracts about 300 visitors each year, was a celebration of the importance of science.

“In general, if you stop and think about everything we have achieved as humans, it’s related to science,” she said.

“Science has been integral in the past and is vitally important for the future as well.

“We have been doing the extravaganza for a long time and every year we have a lot of great feedback. It is something that gets the school and the wider community together.”

Entry is free and a raffle on the night will include a range of prizes and shopping vouchers.