COULD there be life on Mars? This question is boggling the minds of some of the students at Hallidays Point Public School.
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This term students learnt of the discovery of water tracks on Mars, by NASA, which has provided strong evidence that liquid water flows on our neighbouring planet.
To feed the children's excitement and questions about this discovery a visit to the school was paid by Mitchell Wilson, a CSIRO Scientists in School co-ordinator and MidCoast Water business improvement officer.
Using a range of interactive science experiments Mitchell helped the children understand the challenges astronauts will face on Mars in securing fresh drinking water.
One experiement involved students using a plastic syringe and filling it with 5mm of 20 and 50 degree water.
They were to block the top of the syringe and pull, with the resulting bubbles teaching them that a change in water pressure can change the boiling point.
According to school principal Peter Johnston, Mitchell's demonstrations at the school are an integral part of their science curriculum.
"It's hands on and makes them want to learn about the world around them," Peter said.
"It's about forming an inquisitive mind."
Peter explains there is also a great push for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) in the new curriculum.
"It's showing science is cool and is for young people too," said Mitchell.
"So in 10 years time perhaps a student in this classroom could be making the next Mars discovery."