The Year 11 Chemistry and Physics classes, accompanied by Mr Hodges and Mrs Millikin, made the trip to Wollongong on Thursday 30 May to have an Inside Industry tour of the steelworks plant. The tour offered insight into the process, scale, history and career opportunities that exist at Port Kembla Steelworks.

Students observed the steel making process from obtaining the correct PPE for entering the site, at the visitor centre, right through to the robotic testing stage of the steel making process. The process starts with over 80 tonne of scrap steel being incorporated into the ladle with molten iron and allowed to react for 40 minutes. It is then poured into slab form and cut into 12 metre lengths. Some of the students commented on how hot it was in the factory at this stage! Students then watched the process of rolling the steel to make it into sheet metal for either transfer to the adjacent site for painting or rolled into steel for other customers. At the end of the tour students were able to observe the quality and control testing that occurs in a large-scale process.

The biggest misconception that was raised was the plum of “smoke” that is seen from the steelworks when travelling past. This is in fact water vapour, which was a surprise for the students. They were able to observe just how water is used in the plant to cool the 1500 degree Celsius steel at certain stages in the process.

The students stayed overnight at Metro Miranda and were able to travel via train into Circular Quay for the evening. Taking in the breathtaking views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House with the VIVID light display, whilst enjoying dinner in the city. Some of the students made comment that the shops are still open past 5pm!

The following day, Friday 31 May, students attended the only nuclear reactor facility in Australia: ANSTO at Lucas Heights. This consisted of a tour of the facility; seeing where the 30kg of uranium radioactive source is located, the production line of Technectium-99m (a widely used radioisotope for medical imaging), how waste products are stored and the particle accelerator. The physicists in the group were right in their element! The tour was followed by a presentation and practical investigation which the students happily volunteered to be a part of.

A phenomenal 2 days of science that allowed the students to see what science beyond school is all about!

Mrs Kym Millikin
Chemistry Teacher