Welcome back to PRISM, the SCISOC newsletter! In this edition of PRISM, we discuss the serious issues of climate change that's been plaguing our Earth, influential voices across the globe that have been bringing attention to these issues, and ways you can contribute to slow the advancement of climate change. We also discuss ways you can keep yourself relaxed and entertained during the lockdown in our coveted Fun Corner! With the exams about to start, SCISOC wishes you good luck and happy reading! |
|
|
Lockdown got you feeling bored, lonely and sad? Looking for a fun and exciting break from your scholar grind for assignments and finals? Want to make more friends and socialise during these isolated times? Well, SCISOC has got you covered! Join us and don't miss out on this amazing opportunity! |
|
|
| SCISOC Presents: Double Jeopardy! If you’re willing to make new friends, love the adrenaline rush of being under pressure and want to make some new friends at the same time, join us on discord at 8PM on the 6th! This is the perfect opportunity to flex your mega brain in front of everyone and win some bragging rights as well as real prizes at the same time! Sign up here for a good time. |
|
|
Heart Research Institute: 2022 Undergraduate Summer Scholarship Are you a second or third-year student looking to develop your skills and gain valuable experience at state-of-the-art research facilities? Apply for the HRI Summer Scholarship where you are offered the opportunity to work alongside high-calibre scientists, with new and advanced cutting-edge technologies and equipment! The scholarship provides students with the opportunity to work on a medical research project directly related to cardiovascular disease, expanding on their skills and knowledge under the mentorship of our scientists. Scholarship recipients will be required to write a report on their work experience and make a presentation to their peers and supervisors at the end of the scholarship period. Recipients will also receive a stipend payment for the duration of the scholarship. It is a seven-week scholarship and placements are full-time and will begin in early January 2022 and finish at the end of February 2022. Apply here. Applications close 19th of September 2021. For more information, visit HRI's website. |
|
|
“The moment we decide to fulfill something, we can do anything.” - Greta Thunberg |
|
|
Today, almost all of the products you use on a daily basis either directly or indirectly require the burning of fossil fuels. The world’s reliance on fossil fuels to provide electricity, transport and heat, creates two major issues - depleting a finite resource and contributing to the climate crisis. The official discovery of climate change began in the 19th century where scientists began to identify the natural greenhouse effect and argued that human emissions of greenhouse gases could change the climate. Global warming has been the a consequence of the significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over time. Thankfully, governments and influential figures across the world have spread awareness of the declining state of the environment and consequently brought about more eco-friendly approaches to energy. |
|
|
Greta Thunberg At the age of 15, Thunberg began protesting outside the Swedist Parliament in 2018, holding a school sign saying “School Strike for Climate'', to pressure the government to revise their carbon emission targets. In the past few years, she’s become a pivotal and leading figure on the issue of climate change. From joining millions of people in protests around the world to confronting world leaders at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 on climate change, Thunberg carries the vision and passion of stopping the climate crisis that is slowly deteriorating the physical world and the quality of life of future generations. |
| |
|
| One of Thunberg’s greatest achievements is the founding of her organisation targeted at the youth, Fridays For Future. The organisation represents an international movement of school students that participate in skipping Fridays during certain periods of the year. Aimed at taking forceful action to limit global warming, Fridays For Future aims to put moral pressure on policymakers, urging them to listen to qualified scientists and respond to the evergrowing issue of climate change. |
|
|
Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo DiCaprio is a model for how one's platform and status can be used to spread awareness on pressing issues evidenced by the 2016 documentary "Before The Flood" where DiCaprio meets with scientists and world leaders to discuss the dangers of climate change and how the world can remedy it. Also in 1998, the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation was established with the mission of protecting the Earth and implementing solutions to build a harmonious relationship between humanity and the natural world. Through grantmaking over $80 million, speaking at public campaigns and funding media projects, DiCaprio continues to take an aggressive approach towards climate change, to lead by example and thus imbue a sense of urgency in his audience. |
| |
|
These inspiring people have reshaped the way the global population views how we should fundamentally live. This goes without saying that you could also take part in this movement. Climate change is an alarming issue which once neglected, will become a detriment for future generations. It is vital that we understand how we can prevent issues relating to climate change from getting worse, and how we can take small steps that lead to a great difference for this world. Nevertheless, if you’re ever wondering how you could start making a difference, here are some resources that may be useful! |
|
|
We are all sick and tired of hearing the word ‘lockdown’ at this point, but as always UNSW SCISOC Prism is here to brighten up your time at home! We’re going to list and give tips on some popular hobbies that have emerged during this time and hopefully, you will add one of them to your own routine! |
|
|
1. Cooking/Baking It's time to embrace your inner baker! Trying new recipes allows you to take time off your screens and reward yourself by creating some delicious (hopefully) treats. There are dozens of videos online that can teach you how to bake cookies, cakes and how to decorate your creations. Banana Bread was the first lockdown baking trend, turning up all over social media when supermarkets were swept out of flour. Even with restaurants closed during the lockdown, this is the perfect opportunity to whip up some of your favourite treats at home. |
| |
|
As well as baking sweets, savoury food is still within your realm of possibilities. Though some of us should not be let near the stove, there are relatively quick and if not quick, satisfying dishes we can make! Bread whether it’s focaccia or cinnamon rolls is not too difficult to create and can last you a few breakfasts. Savoury pancakes are also great for beginners who want snacks to eat in between classes. In particular, scallion pancakes are quite easy to mimic at home so you don’t have to mourn going out to your favourite Chinese restaurant to eat them! |
| |
|
| 2. Binge-watch shows or movies With more time on our hands, we now get to consume all the media on our lists. Whether it’s that documentary or that cult classic or binge-watching your favourite anime, there’s a flurry of content out there. You could watch the slew of new Marvel shows and the Black Widow movie on Disney+ (with a plug of course…), keep up with the Gossip Girl reboot, or watch the new k-drama on Netflix ‘Nevertheless’. There are also plenty of alternatives to these platforms to watch what you would like but they’re open secrets! |
|
|
3. Reading In amongst required readings and skimming through lecture slides, books also exist! You know, those novels meant for leisure? While the range of books and literature out there are endless, you can find PDFs easily online via websites such as Z-Library or read online using Kindle or Books. As well as normal novels, other forms of literature such as poetry are easily accessible via the variety of websites you can access such as Poetry Foundation and Poets.org. Last but not least, subscription services for magazines and other websites are still available as always, so a wide range of content is there for you to feast your eyes and minds on. |
| |
|
| 4. Arts/Journaling Extra time inside during the lockdown has been the perfect excuse to take on big craft projects or dig out your primary school art kit and release your inner Bob Ross. Origami is a great start for beginners since it’s easy to learn without needing many materials on hand and can be a great addition as decoration in your room. The classic paper crane is always a go-to, but if you are looking for something more challenging, check out Origami with Jo Nakashima for some next-level designs. Journaling does not only allow you to put your creativity on-page but is also a great way to unwind and ease your worries if only for a quick thirty minutes. They don’t always have to be masterpieces or done with heaps of stickers and photos and can be a way to vent or answer questions for that self-reflection that we’ve got all the time in the world for. Journaling also allows you to plan for the term ahead and keep your academics and extracurriculars on track. A quick search on YouTube should help you get started! |
|
|
5. Exercise Last but definitely not least, is exercise. Alongside the mandated walks and runs we should be taking, home workouts are a great alternative to the gym and walking up the cursed stairs on campus. There are heaps of workout routines on Youtube for your perusal that target different areas of your body as well as stretching and quick warm-ups for before and after. Some suggestions are Pamela Reif and POPSUGAR Fitness for a broad range of routines for you to keep fit and make some gains. Fun dance workout videos such as The Fitness Marshall are also great to train up with your favourite songs. If you want to use weights and don’t have access to any, a good substitute is a textbook, water bottle or even your furry friend if they’re okay with that. On that note, walking your pets like your dogs (or cats!) is a good way to get some exercise into your day or week and some fresh air as well (with your mask on!). |
| |
|
UNSW Science Society is proud to announce our continued partnership with GradReady through 2021. 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! |
|
|
| |
