MORE than 95 students from St Mary's Public School, Peak Hill Public and Cummnock Public School converged on Taronga Western Plains Zoo yesterday to take part in energy workshops as part of National Science Week, which runs until Saturday.
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The zoo has partnered with Warrumbungles Environmental Education Centre and Dubbo City Council to present Fizzics Education - a number of workshops about energy.
The workshops cover the evolution of energy, renewable energy resources, energy efficiency and how animals need energy.
One of yesterday's experiments involved the use of liquid nitrogen with the spectacular results getting a big thumbs up from the children.
"Today students are participating in workshops that allow them to learn in a hands-on environment," the zoo's senior education officer Kristy Robberts said.
"They are learning about all aspects of energy from energy consumption and energy efficiency through to energy production.''
Ms Robberts said students attending the workshop today would experiment with a solar oven and bake a cake, weather permitting.
"These workshops allow us to expose school students to a range of different scientists and different disciplines of science in a fun and safe environment and ensure they have some level of science literacy to understand the role it plays in everyday life," she said.
Providing opportunities for the community to learn about energy was important to the Dubbo City Council, which will be showcasing its Victoria Park renewable energy project with students at the workshops and hosting the Dubbo Sustainable City Expo at Victoria Park this Saturday, according to Dubbo City Council's sustainability co-ordinator Catriona Jennings.
National Science Week is about connecting young people with science and advances in science and technology and is aimed at getting students interested in pursuing a career in science and inspiring them about the world of science.
lisa.minner@ruralpress.com
