News
The Art of Science
In science classes across the Senior School, BSS students are transforming complex chemical and physical principles into functional, yet imaginative designs.
Inside the chemistry labs, Grade 12 students were granted full creative license to craft bespoke jewellery, translating scientific concepts into wearable art. Starting with copper forms, the class used electrochemistry to plate zinc onto their pieces. By heating this combination, students applied their understanding of metallic bonding and created a resilient brass alloy, resulting in a final product that is chemically stronger and more stable than its original form.
The challenge evolved as students pivoted to working with titanium, a material that called for a different strategy due to its structural integrity. Using an electrolytic cell to create a titanium oxide layer, they controlled the voltage to dictate the final colour of their jewellery. This process demanded a sophisticated understanding of the intersection between chemistry and physics to achieve vibrant patterns.
Grade 9 scientists explored the movement and management of energy in the “You Light Up My Life” project. Tasked with the question of how to control electricity, the group designed custom illuminated greeting cards. This required sketching detailed plans of series and parallel circuits, then rigorously testing their paths before making any permanent connections. To complete the card, students composed unique messages and poems with a witty connection to the electricity unit, following the poetic conventions learned in their English classes.
At BSS, these interdisciplinary projects enrich the Ontario curriculum and demonstrate the value of discovery through making. Students research and experiment to solve real-world challenges, applying complex concepts to gain a deep understanding of the scientific principles that bring their creative designs to life.
