Science Union
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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UWA Science Union |
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| Motto | What goes down must come up |
| Established | 1924 |
| Type | Faculty Society |
| President | Tomy Hwang |
| Faculty | Life and Physical Sciences |
| Students | >3000 |
| Location | Cameron Hall, Guild Building |
| Campus | Crawley |
| Colours | Black and Yellow |
| Nickname | SU |
| Mascot | Gribbles the lab rat |
| Affiliations | UWA Student Guild |
| Website | http://www.scienceunion.org.au |
The UWA Science Union is the faculty society for Life and Physical Sciences at the University of Western Australia, Perth. Founded in 1924, it is the second oldest club at the university and currently represents over 3000 students enrolled in a Bachelor of Science at UWA. It caters for students on three main levels: politically, academically, and socially.
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[edit] History
The Science Union was incepted in 1924 as the result of a merger by the physics and natural history clubs. Later in 1934, a formal record of the founding of the society was produced. This historic document was presented back to the Science Union in 1964 and was on display in the office until 1995, when it was lost by the president at the time.
Science Union's original home was the Irwin Street Building when UWA was located in central Perth - locally known as "tin pot alley". When the University shifted to its present day location in Crawley, the Irwin Street Building was also moved and now serves as the convocation building besides James Oval.
As the University began to expand on to the present campus, Science Union was relocated and spent many years in the Weatherburn lecture theatre. In 1992 Science Union relocated the the Guild-owned Cameron Hall (originally the engineering building) where it stayed until 2000, when the club moved into the Guild administration building from a brief stint until 2003. Another brief stay in the now demolished Chemistry building (until the end of 2004) was the last time a formal club room existed. The newly constructed Molecular and Chemical Sciences building had no room for the Science Union, and as a result, the club now occupies common space in Cameron Hall, the building it occupied six years earlier. Proposals for a new Science Library (an amalgamation of the Biological Sciences and Undergraduate Maths and Physical Sciences Libraries) are to include a clubroom for Science Union.
[edit] Events
Science Union holds and participates in many events throughout the university year. Members regularly participate in Prosh, an annual fundraising event with a twist, by dressing up, and selling satirical newspapers, all in a day which culminates in the "Proshesion" where floats made my the students go through the streets of Perth. The Guild-organised event "Club Olympics" also draws members of the Science Union in to participate in activities such as keg rolling, body-painting and animal-suit racing. Participants are often seen wearing characteristic white lab coats.
Previous events have seen formal balls held at such local Perth locations such as Underwater World (now AQWA) and Scitech. Many a good time was had at these events, as were many things a broken. Lifetime bans have been issued from both these establishments, and a letter from Underwater World outlining the shenanigans that occurred is proudly presented in the common room. After the Scitech Ball (2000), one person was asked why they poured beer over the computers, simply replying "they were thirsty". After very infreqent occurrences, there is to be a Science Ball in September 2006, the first since 2003.
Science Union also organises popular events, such as its annual Fresher Camp which is at the start of each year and is a fantastic way to introduce first year science students to the finer aspects of a university education. In the past there has been over 200 first year students attend over two weekends. This is closely followed by "Reunion" which involves freshers meeting again (originally designed for when two camps were run, so the freshers could meet the people from the other camp), have a good time and elect first year representatives (fresher reps) for the committee. The "Pyjama Party" is an annual event that has in a way replaced the more traditional "Poop Deck" (a pirate themed party now run by the UWA Arts Union). A giant Twister mat is a feature of the night filled with flannelette/lingerie-clad antics, which this year included a visit from the fire brigade. The 2006 Science Ball will be the first ball in 3, with only 3 balls being held by Science Union in the last 10 years, it would be a night to remember (or more appropriately, a night you wish you could remember). In response to the traditional Engineers vs Law students rugby "grudge match", a Science vs Arts studends lawn bowls grudge match has been suggested.
[edit] Educational
Science Union also represents students in educational matters, with representatives sitting on the Education Council for the Guild of Undergraduates, the Board of Teaching of Science, the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences Teaching and Learning committee, and also the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Teaching and Learning Committee. In August 2006 SU held a careers night, with representatives from industry giving students advice on job prospects.
Each year academic prizes donated by the Science Union are awarded to the top student in selected first year units:
- Science Union Prize in Biology
- Science Union Prize in Geology
- Science Union Prize in Geography
- Science Union Prize in Botany (no longer awarded)
[edit] Sport
Science Union is involved in inter-faculty sport organised by the UWA Sports Association, and competes on Wednesday afternoons during first semester and the first half of second semester. Although as an organisation, Science Union represents students studying Human Movement and Exercise Science, they choose to compete under their own banner of PESA (Physical Education Students Association). As a result, many of the 'elite' athletes choose PESA over Science Union, with the scientists enjoying the 'finer' aspects of the competition, such as the visit to the tavern afterwards.
