Grade 11 Sciences Field course

This year for ESP, the IB1 physics, biology and chemistry students of Mr. Wood, Ms. Cannon, Mr. Hobbins and Mr. Carmichael headed to Udzungwa Mountains National Park, a lush, forested region on the largest of the Eastern Arc Mountains. After a slightly numbing eight hour journey from Dar, the students got quickly to work on the first of their scientific activities. The biologists were concentrating on field work in which the flora and fauna of the region were investigated by studying small sample areas, or "quadrats". Meanwhile, the physicists and chemists busied themselves with cross-disciplinary experiments that required useful input from both sciences and excellent team-working skills. The clear night skies gave the students an opportunity to do make astronomical observations in an attempt to determine the relative motions of the Earth and stars by the powers of observation and deduction alone.
All of the students were given a tour of the nearby Kidatu Hydroelectric Power Station, an important part of Tanzania's electricity grid. Last year, the Station was on the verge of a shutdown because of record low levels of water in the lake that feeds it. This year, thanks to recent rains, the lake was back to maximum level and side gates had to be opened to allow excess water to escape! The tour gave the students an insight into some of the science associated with the Station, including the physics behind the energy transformation that produces the electricity, and the environmental impact of this huge engineering and construction project on the surrounding area.
On the final day of the trip, the whole group completed a three hour, five km, hike up to spectacular Sanje waterfall, where they could enjoy a sweeping panoramic view of the Kilombero valley and then enjoy a refreshing dip in the cold waters of St Bernard’s pool. The most remarkable aspect of the hike was that not one student complained about it! In fact, after we'd returned to the hotel and eaten dinner, most of the group still had enough energy to join in with a local ngoma dance group.

Before you could say "it's quite hot on this bus", we were back on Dar. Throughout the week, the teachers were impressed by the good-natured enthusiasm with which the students got stuck into everything that they did. Thanks to everyone for making it such an enjoyable and successful ESP.

Eamon Hobbins Science Teacher