Our teaching facilities
Our main science teaching laboratories provide a world-class, highly interactive and stimulating learning environment. They have been fitted with the latest digital technology providing the following benefits:
- Allows students to use microscopes in a totally new way by projecting the microscopic images onto computer screens and projector boards so they can share their discoveries with the entire class. It is like every practical becomes a nature documentary, and the students are the directors.
- Each student in these laboratories has access to a networked computer, digital camera and microscopes, allowing them to create their own virtual libraries of images from the laboratory exercise and share these with their classmates and teachers.
- Through the application of digital technology teachers are able to highlight relevant features to the whole class with options to capture the images, analyse them using image analysis software, and to provide copies on USB drives for inclusion in student reports.
- Interaction between students and teachers is also enhanced due to portable teacher stations and networking technology that allows teachers to monitor student progress.
Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences laboratory
This short video provides a virtual tour of Macquarie University's Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences laboratory. It presents a highly interactive and stimulating teaching environment that utilises the latest technologies with sustainability in mind.
Refurbished in 2011, the Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences laboratory comprises a wet room for experiments, a dry lab/Instrumentation room used to test compound structures and a write-up room for students to write-up their results. Key features include:
- Digital screens provide information for students at their fingertips and an interactive source of learning providing interactive simulations; experiment notes; a Where is? capability; and safety data sheets.
- The digital screens have a 3D capability so students can view vibrating structure/chemical reactions in 3D.
- Sustainability features of the laboratory include lighting that is activated only when movement in the lab is sensed; installed water saving pumps and filters; natural light; extraction fans to emit/neutralise chemical smells; vapour filtering systems; and a washing system that has a solution to wash out chemicals before they leave the lab.
- The laboratory is wheel-chair access friendly providing benches and taps suitable for wheelchair height and height adjustable digital screens available so touch screen is accessible
- Hearing loops are available in the laboratory.
- In the dry lab teachers and students have access to a white screen where hand written notes from a tutorial can be converted to typed notes. The tutor can then send the notes to the class via email from the board so time is not wasted copying the notes from the board.
- In the write-up lab where students write-up their results, features include a flexible seating arrangement so the room can be configured to suit the needs of the students; wireless access; laptops available for use.
This short video provides a virtual tour of Macquarie University's Chiropractic laboratories. It presents a highly interactive and stimulating teaching environment that utilises the latest technologies with sustainability in mind.
In 2011 the chiropractic facilities were refurbished. Every effort has been made to utilise the latest technologies with sustainability in mind. Not only is our new facility state-of-the-art and spacious, it also has a small carbon footprint. Key features include:
- Occupies an entire floor stretching across 1286 square metres and includes purpose built rooms for radiology, orthopaedics, rehabilitation and case management.
- Audiovisual equipment is used for the recording and presentation of chiropractic and other procedures. Aimed at enhancing the learning process, remote video playback by students is possible.
- The ecologically friendly design maximises use of natural light and minimises energy wastage by use of computer-controlled air conditioning and lighting to increase the facilities’ sustainability.
- For the anatomy component of their degree, our chiropractic students access new facilities within the Macquarie University Hospital.
Refurbished physics laboratories offer students access to excellent facilities and equipment. The photonics laboratories have been described by the Australian Institute of Physics as a national asset.
Our astronomy students have access to their own observatory on campus. Several of our astronomy units have an observing component where students visit the observatory at night to observe planets, nebulae and clusters.
Well equipped laboratory facilities complete with modern desktop environments are available to our computing students to undertake their practical and assignment work.