The Science of Discovery

The breadth and sophisticated data and analysis recently presented at our HSC Science Extension Showcase would have impressed university academics.

From the biomechanical analysis of elite running shoes to the microbiology of sourdough starters, our young scientists tackled questions that bridge theoretical knowledge with real-world applications.

The HSC Science Extension course requires students to conduct independent research projects with genuine scientific rigour. One 2025 project examined how Nike Vaporfly Next% 2 running shoes affect lower limb muscles. This investigation required understanding both acute and chronic physiological responses and incorporated longitudinal data that tracked the muscle activity of high heel and non-high-heel-wearers over time. Muscle thickness was measured using a variety of methodologies, allowing for greater understanding of the impact of modern racing shoe designs.

Another student addressed one of Australia's most persistent environmental challenges through an investigation into herbicide impacts on Opuntia Aurantiaca populations. Her field-based research examined both immediate and longer-term effects of different herbicide treatments on tiger pear cactus health and population dynamics. It demonstrated a mature understanding of invasive species control and ecosystem dynamics.

Traditional food science was analysed in a project that examined sourdough starters. This microbiology investigation explored the way flour type influences carbon dioxide production and fermentation activity, connecting ancient culinary practices with contemporary methodology.

Many of the students investigated questions that bridge disciplines. One explored the impact of nature (including the built environment), on students’ physical stress and cognition. Another delved into astrophysics, looking at the relationship between an asteroid’s rotational velocity and its degree of elongation, finding a moderate correlation with rotational frequency.

Another student’s investigation into the aerodynamic properties of projectiles demonstrated how sports science meets physics principles. Testing basketballs, softballs, tennis balls, and soccer balls through controlled drops, she used high-speed video analysis to examine how surface texture, size, and shape influence motion through air resistance. Ten trials were conducted per projectile, to provide comprehensive data on how aerodynamic factors affect projectile behaviour.

Listening to the girls’ hypotheses, experiment designs, data collection and analyses resulted in a fascinating experience for the parents, friends, staff and students, as well as insights that could well contribute to a variety of professional endeavours.