Year 12 VCE student, Misha’s recently experience at the ‘Natural Sciences Experience: From critters to the cosmos’ camp hosted by the University of Tasmania (UTAS). The camp was seven days, with 3 nights being in Hobart and 3 nights at the field. We were a total of 24 students from across Australia.

While at the camp, students explored various geological structures and fossils, went on a night hike, conducted surveys in Mt. Field National Park, used telescopes to observe the cosmos, and tried their hand at flying drones. We also visited the Tasmanian Museum, the beautiful Art Gallery, and conducted chemical experiments at the laboratories located at UTAS.

Particular favourites were exploring the Mesoproterozoic rocks, as it was an area in science that I haven’t had much exposure to, as well as the Tarn shelf walk. It was super fun!

Some of the other interesting information that I came across:

• Rocks that turn red/orange colours experience oxidation due to the iron minerals, which are held inside, and oxygen in the air;
• Tasmanian Devils are being observed to have become less aggressive animals. This is due to the impact of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD);
• Fats in chocolate have a crystal lattice structure, each with its own stability, melting point, and texture, and
• Wombats look for the highest point in an area to lay their poop to mark their territory!

It was a great learning experience, alongside meeting like-minded students from different backgrounds. I seem to have developed a keen interest in environmental science since the camp and would highly advocate that more needs to be done to ensure the survival of Australia’s endemic flora and fauna.