The Cougar Café was buzzing with excited voices on Friday 12th May. This was the highlight of the scientific Middle School year with Grades 6 and 7 making their Science Fair project presentations to Secondary School students, teachers, parents, families and friends.

Over the last few months the Grade 6 and 7 students have been hard at work on their Science Fair projects. Working in groups they come up with a research question and design an experimental protocol. They spend many hours in the laboratory, trouble-shooting problems that arise and collecting data. After the practical phase they analyze their data and use it to answer their research question.

One of the top prizes at the recent PSG Bingo event for Elementary and Montessori students was a visit to the Chemistry Lab. The two lucky winners each brought a friend to participate in a variety of exciting experiments and demonstrations.

Our Pre-School Montessori students in Miss Almoula's and Miss Chito's class participated in a special Science experiment: using a thermometer to read the temperature.

Towards the end of January both Grade 4 classes visited the Chemistry lab to learn how to make crystals.

The Science Department hosted its yearly special lecture last Tuesday. Those lectures aim to introduce a world-renowned scientist to our International Baccalaureate natural scientists in order for them to hear about their research and activities, obtain inspiration from their careers, and forge connections with the professional world. Year after year, dedicated students seize those opportunities, which sometimes materialize into summer placements, special visits, and more. 

Last week, students from the French Section visited the Chemistry lab Laboratory to see Sublimation in action as part of their study of States of Matter. Sublimation is when a solid turns directly into a gas without melting.

We recently reported on the visit to our labs by Dr Aki Minoda, a group leader at RIKEN research institute, mentioning that Dr Minoda was a very active supporter of the Science Department. Today we are delighted to report that thanks to her help, the Biology lab is on its way to conduct a new and very exciting range of experiments.

This past week, Saint Maur International School held its annual Middle School Science Fair. The 6th and 7th Grade students presented their scientific research to staff, parents, and other students from Grades 5 to 11. It was the culmination of two months of research and testing and while many of the students were nervous, they did brilliantly presenting to such a broad audience.

Every year the PSG kindly host a Bingo Bash for our Elementary Students. Not only is much fun had by all but the lucky winners win a special prize – A visit to the Chemistry laboratory with a friend.

As the academic year draws closer to the end, many students are looking forward to receiving their Yearbooks. In the Science Department we adopt a molecular approach to the ‘mugshot page’.

A feeling of excitement had been building up for some time within the Science Department due to the fact that with the state of emergency being lifted, we would be able to once again host a lecture by a world-class researcher for the benefit of our IB students. Our guest this time was Dr Aki Minoda, Team Leader of the Laboratory for Cellular Epigenomics at RIKEN’s Center for Integrative Medical Sciences.