Year 10 Students Investigate the “Great Arc Reactor Heist”. Who stole the Arc Reactor from the OHS Science Department? That’s the mystery Year 10 Science students are working hard to solve.

This engaging unit of work has turned the classroom into a crime lab, with students applying their scientific knowledge and investigative skills to crack the case. To uncover the culprit, they are drawing on everything from keen observation and inference to some advanced laboratory techniques.

The “crime scene” has given students the opportunity to test soil acidity from residue found on shoes, measure blood splatter patterns to make inferences, and even compare DNA profiles and fingerprints. They are also exploring chemical and physical reactions and applying their knowledge in real-world contexts.

For many, this has been a scientific highlight of the year. Several students say the project has inspired them to pursue future studies in forensic science. The culprit will be exposed this week and can expect to be arrested by the Year 10 Dean, turned detective, Senior Inspector Ms Sarah Wang.