Welcome back to PRISM, the SCISOC newsletter! This week, our SCISOC Report brings exciting news about our just released camp leader applications! We also talk about the emergence of a new strain of COVID-19, as well as weird traditions around the world for celebrating the New Year in our Fun Corner. Finally, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the SCISOC team! |
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SCISOC’s annual camp has arrived, once more providing you with an opportunity to become a trusty camp leader to the incoming first years. This role is crucial in helping first-years to adjust to the chaotic life of university, especially considering the lingering effects of COVID-19. Being a camp leader gives you an invaluable opportunity to meet new people and work on your leadership skills. As a camp leader, you will be assigned responsibility over a group of campees with whom you will spend most of the camp with. Your main role will be to facilitate bonding between your campees via camp activities and provide them with a memorable and enjoyable university experience. While the role of camp leader does hold a lot of responsibility, it is also equally rewarding. It provides the perfect opportunity to meet new people and develop close friendships which will last far after the end of the camp. Furthermore, you will also develop your teamwork, leadership and organisational skills, which are crucial in all aspects of life and will be very useful in your professional career. Eligibility: - Must be enthusiastic, vibrant and ready to have fun
- Must be responsible as a leader to the campees and cooperative with the other camp leaders to ensure camp runs smoothly
So, what are you waiting for? Check out our event on our Facebook page here, and apply now! Interviews will be handed out on a rolling basis, so get in quick! |
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Despite the year 2020 coming to an end, the same cannot be said for the global pandemic that has recently overtaken everybody’s lives. The number of new cases have peaked in December, and seems to still be on the rise worldwide. This doesn’t seem to be the worst news having been received this month, however. |
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| Earlier this month, scientists’ worry was piqued in the UK during another regular meeting discussing the spread of the coronavirus. While studying the phylogenetic tree of the virus, they noticed that a very specific variant of the coronavirus was responsible for the surge in new cases in Kent, a county in England. In less than a fortnight, this variant had gone on to spread over the UK, and has managed to make its way into the greater parts of Europe. |
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This new strain, given the name B.1.1.7, has been causing a lot of worry due to the way it’s come about, as well as the potentially stronger traits it seems to possess. The coronavirus is no stranger to mutations, its strain having mutated at least once or twice a month. However, B.1.1.7 seems to have evolved to acquire 17 mutations at once, leaving scientists confused and frantically researching to find out how this is possible. According to Boris Johnson, B.1.1.7 seems to spread faster than its previous iteration, with its transmissibility rate having risen by over 70%, although scientists say it’s still too early to confirm whether or not this is true. However, B.1.1.7 seems to be responsible for over 60% of cases in London in early December, which is up by nearly 40% compared to late September. Scientists think that, although this could be due to the potentially much higher transmissibility rate, could also be due to the fact that people have been traveling all over whilst carrying the virus. |
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One of the 17 mutations that B.1.1.7 seems to have evolved is called N501Y, a mutation that allows the virus’ protein to bind to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which is the entry point for the virus into the human cell, thus allowing its infection. A strain unrelated to B.1.1.7 found in South Africa also shares this same mutation, which allowed it to spread a lot faster. This lends credence to the potential that the B.1.1.7 strain could have higher transmissibility rates. |
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Although B.1.1.7 has yet to reach Australia, we have recently seen a surge in cases in NSW, causing NSW to revert from its previous safe zone to once again re-implementing old restrictions, just in time for the New Year. Thus, remember to wear a mask, try to socially distance yourselves, and celebrate safely. |
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Nothing screams 'Aussie New Year' more than sausages on the barbie, fireworks, and goon. Or perhaps you're boujee enough to throw a New Year cruise party on the harbour, surrounded by your friends. Either way, the Aussie way of celebrating the New Year seems so normal to us, but what about New Year traditions in other countries? In this edition of the Fun Corner, we have brought you some seemingly bizarre New Year traditions from around the world. |
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Denmark - Broken Plates If you ever get teleported to a foreign country on New Year's Eve and you see broken plates outside people's doors, you're probably in Denmark. Danes save up unused plates and glasses all year until New Year's Eve when they throw them at the doors of friends and family. You may think this tradition is an act of spite, but it is actually a display of affection! It symbolises the banishing of bad spirits from their homes. In hopes of good luck, Danes also jump off of chairs at midnight to leap into the New Year. |
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| Finland - Molten Tin To predict what the New Year will bring, Finnish people take a small piece of tin, molded in the shape of a horseshoe, which is a traditional symbol of good luck. The tin is then molted and cast into cold water, where they then interpret the shape and shadow the tin takes after solidifying. A heart or ring shape foretells a potential wedding, a ship means the opportunity to travel, and a pig predicts there will be plentiful food in the New Year. But beware, if the metal breaks up into pieces, it is a symbol of bad luck. |
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Philippines - Round Things In the Philippines, the New Year circles around one thing; money. Round things are used to symbolise coins and wealth and therefore Filipino people use round clothes, round food and more, to manifest prosperity and wealth for the New Year. It is common for families to have a pile of round fruit on their dining tables, and at midnight, they eat exactly 12 round fruits, usually grapes. Many Filipinos also wear polka dots for good luck in the coming year (so vintage!) |
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UNSW Science Society is proud to announce our continued partnership with GradReady through 2020. GradReady provides GAMSAT Preparation courses for anyone looking to pursue Medicine after they graduate. This process starts earlier than you think, so if you’re studying medical science or just have that passion, check out what they have to offer! |
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