Raffelesia International School Puchong organised a Science Video Making Challenge this academic year. 

Science week has been an annual event held in the past when physical school is allowed. We used to have science week where students learned how to be creative and present their ideas using posters. 

This year we have come up with an idea to hold science week as a virtual event, students get to learn how to use their MacBook to create video clips (meant to be short) to record their finding and research ideas. 

All year groups from Year 7-10 race against time to work online in a group of maximum four members to compile their ideas into a video format. 

Here are some experiment highlights and presentation from Year 8.  Let's have a look at their creativity. 

Kerbalcontroller

A Custom Control Panel for Rocket Game Kerbal Space Program

Presenter:  Jenson, Jia Hang & Jin Xen

The Science Behind It?

What is a KerbalController?

A KerbalController, also referred to as a Control Panel, Simpit (simulated cockpit), DSKY (display keyboard) or custom joystick, is a customized input device for controlling the popular rocket-building-and-flying-and-hopefully-not-exploding game Kerbal Space Program combined with optional output from the game, such as status lights, telemetry displays and/or fuel gauges.

Why build a KerbalController?

Well, because pushing buttons and throwing physical switches feels so much more substantial than clicking your mouse. Especially when it's a big red safety switch, where you have to open the cover first, flick the switch to arm your rocket, start the countdown and 3 .. 2 .. 1 .. we have lift off!

DIY: How to Make Handmade Paper from Recycled Materials

Experimenter:  Qiao Jie, Qaseh, Valeriya & Joey

The Science Behind It?

The process of waste paper recycling involves blending used/scrap papers with water, which breaks it down further into strands of cellulose, a type of organic plant material; this resulting mixture is called pulp, or slurry.

Making a Volcano

Experimenter:  Jayden, Arsyad & Maximus

The Science Behind It?

What happen when you put a vinegar and baking soda in the “volcano”?

This experiment demonstrates the classic chemical reaction between an acid (namely acetic acid present in the vinegar) and a carbonate (namely sodium hydrogen carbonate present in the baking soda). When exposed to acids, carbonate undergoes a decomposition reaction in which carbon dioxide is released as a gas.

Step back! It’s eruption time!