The Year 11 Chemistry and Physics classes, accompanied by Mr Hodges and Mrs Millikin, made the annual trip to Wollongong on Thursday 20th March to have an 'Inside Industry' tour of the Port Kembla 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, through to watching the slabs come off the line, to the final product of rolled flat steel. 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!

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 group also saw where all the water is reused from the waste treatment facility nearby.

The students stayed overnight at Metro Miranda and enjoyed a night of ten pin bowling at Zone Bowling. There was certainly a variety of talent on display. Mr Hodges and Aimee were the winners in each of the lanes. It was certainly an enjoyable night!

The following day, Friday 31st March, students attended the only nuclear reactor facility in Australia: ANSTO at Lucas Heights. This consisted of a tour of the facility including: 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 use of some radioisotopes in the treatment of thyroid and prostrate cancer. The tour was followed by a presentation and practical investigation which the students happily volunteered to be a part of. This will now form part of their data collection for their Depth Study tasks due later next term.

A phenomenal two days of Science that allowed the students to see what Science beyond school is all about.

Mrs Kym Millikin
Chemistry Teacher