Biosignatures

Stromatolites are one example of evidence of the first life on earth.

Discovering Extremophiles

Understanding habitability on earth and can provide insights for life on other planets.

Rock sampling on Mars

Students learn about the Mars Rover mission and how rocks hold a wealth of evidence of past life.

Workshop overview

Year level 9 to 10
Capacity 16-32 students. If you want to bring more students, email highschool.workshops@qut.edu.au
When School days: Monday to Friday
Duration Half day
Where QUT Gardens Point, Science and Engineering Centre
Cost Free (late cancellation fees apply. See terms and conditions.)

Workshop details

It’s a question as old as humanity itself – are we alone? The quest to discover other lifeforms beyond planet earth has given rise to the multi-disciplinary field of Astrobiology - the study of the origin, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe.

In this half day workshop students will discover why understanding life on earth is the first step to finding life on other planets and moons. They will learn about biosignatures, and how techniques such as mineralogy, petrography, and geochemistry can be used to find them.

Students will learn about habitability; they’ll research the inhospitable environments of extremophiles on earth, and whether other planets might have similar conditions which could harbour life.

Finally, students will be introduced to NASA’s perseverance rover, and it’s mission on Mars looking for life.

Book this workshop

We’re now fully booked in terms 1 and 2, 2025. Bookings for workshops in terms 3 and 4 will be opening in term 2.

Curriculum links

Year 9 Science

  • Scientific understanding, including models and theories, are contestable and refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community (ACSHE157)
  • Elaborates on the requirements for life ( describing how the requirements for life (for example oxygen, nutrients, water and removal of waste) are provided through the coordinated function of body systems such as the respiratory, circulatory, digestive, nervous and excretory systems) (ACSSU175)
  • Advances in scientific understanding often rely on developments in technology and technological advances are often linked to scientific discoveries (ACSHE158)
  • Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS164)
  • All matter is made of atoms that are composed of protons, neutrons and electrons; natural radioactivity arises from the decay of nuclei in atoms (ACSSU177)
  • The theory of plate tectonics explains global patterns of geological activity and continental movement (ACSSU180)

Year 10 Science

  • Global systems, including the carbon cycle, rely on interactions involving the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere (ACSSU189)
  • The theory of evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of living things and is supported by a range of scientific evidence (ACSSU185)
  • The atomic structure and properties of elements are used to organise them in the Periodic Table (ACSSU186)
  • Scientific understanding, including models and theories, is contestable and is refined over time through a process of review by the scientific community (ACSHE191)
  • Advances in scientific understanding often rely on technological advances and are often linked to scientific discoveries (ACSHE192)
  • Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS198)

Contact us

If you have any questions, comments or feedback about the QUT High School Student Connections program, we'd love to hear from you.

3138 1801