Page 10 - 2023 - The Altiora Vol 75

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10 | STUDENT ACHIVEMENT
CHIVEMENT
STUDENT A
CH GARNERS NA
’S RESEAR
EMMA
EMMA’S RESEARCH GARNERS NATIONAL ATTENTION
Y ear 3 student Emma Glenfield
Year 3 student Emma Glenfield
in v estigated the question “ Wh y do
investigated the question “Why do
magpies swoop and do they mean
magpies swoop and do the y mean
to hurt us?”
to hurt us?” - with some surprising
- with some surprising
results.
results.
Her research led to a first-place
Her research led to a first-place
win at the NSW In v estigating with
win at the NSW Investigating with
Mathematics Competition, and an
Mathematics Competition, and an
opportunity to present her findings
opportunity to present her findings
at the annual MENSA conference.
at the annual MENSA conference.
In a stunning result, Emma’s project
In a stunning result, Emma
’s project
won the National competition.
won the National competition.
Emma was prompted to in v estigate
Emma was prompted to investigate
magpies after noticing a pattern
magpies after noticing a pattern
of swooping behaviour from “Mr
of swooping beha
viour from “Mr
Swoopsalot” - a resident magpie
Swoopsalot” - a resident magpie
at BMGS. “Last year I observed
at BMGS. “Last y ear I observ ed
where he swooped, and who he
where he swooped, and who he
swooped and formed a hypothesis
ypothesis
swooped and formed a h
that he targeted tall, solid males
that he targeted tall, solid males
who were bald or had thin hair on
who were bald or had thin hair on
top. I wondered if all magpies are
top. I wondered if all magpies are
lik e this. ”
like this.”
y in
e
’s surv
Emma
Emma’s survey investigated the
estigated the
v
link between people ’s appear ance
link between people’s appearance
and their e
xperience of being
and their experience of being
swooped. After hundreds of Blue
swooped. After hundreds of Blue
Mountains residents participated
Mountains residents participated
in the research, her survey went
in the research, her surv e y went
viral – eventually attracting 20,573
vir al – e v entually attr acting 20,573
Australians to take part.
Austr alians to tak e part.
The large sample size resulted in
The large sample size resulted in
a 99% confidence le v el and a 1%
a 99% confidence level and a 1%
margin of error in her findings. It
margin of error in her findings. It
was also the first time in Australia
was also the first time in Austr alia
that research focused on the link
that research focused on the link
between people
ance and
’s appear
between people’s appearance and
xperience of being swooped.
their e
their experience of being swooped.
’s research drew national
Emma’s research drew national
Emma
interest, with her story broadcast
interest, with her story broadcast
TIONAL A
TTENTION
on ABC Radio Sy dne y , then ABC
on ABC Radio Sydney, then ABC
Radio National, attracting the
Radio National, attr acting the
attention of an expert in the
attention of an e
xpert in the
field, Darryl Jones, Professor
field, Darryl Jones, Professor
Emeritus at Griffith Univ ersity , who
Emeritus at Griffith University, who
commented that this was the first
commented that this was the first
time an y one has e v er e xamined the
time anyone has ever examined the
link between magpie swooping and
link between magpie swooping and
appear
ance. F
, the number
appearance. Further, the number
urther
e
’s surv
of respondents to Emma
y
of respondents to Emma’s survey
also dwarfs anything researchers
also dwarfs an
ything researchers
have ever been able to gather.
ha v e e v er been able to gather .
The research found that males are
The research found that males are
slightly more likely to be swooped
slightly more lik ely to be swooped
than females. People’s physical
than females. P eople ’s ph ysical
acteristics increase their risk
char
characteristics increase their risk
of being swooped, with those
of being swooped, with those
over 6 feet tall twice as likely to
o v er 6 feet tall twice as lik ely to
be swooped in the last 12 months
people wanted to talk about
be swooped in the last 12 months people wanted to talk about
magpies and get involved. I
magpies and get in
than those less than 5.3 feet tall
olv
v
ed. I
than those less than 5.3 feet tall
hope my project helps people to
(21% compared to 10%). A high
(21% compared to 10%). A high hope m y project helps people to
understand magpies better, and
x also increases risk.
, and
understand magpies better
body mass inde
body mass index also increases risk.
that people will understand that
Surprisingly
’s hairstyle
, a person
Surprisingly, a person’s hairstyle that people will understand that
also has an influence, with people magpie dads are just looking after
also has an influence, with people
magpie dads are just looking after
who were bald or “thin on top” their babies. If you take time to
ou tak
”
who were bald or “thin on top
their babies. If y
e time to
being twice as likely to be swooped mak e friends with magpies before
make friends with magpies before
being twice as lik
ely to be swooped
than people with long hair . swooping season, the y will learn
than people with long hair.
swooping season, they will learn
that y ou are not dangerous but
that you are not dangerous but
et e
Not y
xperienced in
Not yet experienced in are their friend. Magpies are great
are their friend. Magpies are great
spreadsheets, Emma used Lego
spreadsheets, Emma used L ego creatures!”
creatures!”
‘gr
aphs’ to reflect her findings.
‘graphs’ to reflect her findings.
Emma also used mathematics to
Emma also used mathematics to
in v estigate a r ange of other magpie
investigate a range of other magpie
features such as egg size, territory
features such as egg size, territory
size, magpie weight, life cycle and
size, magpie weight, life cy
cle and
swooping behaviour.
swooping beha
viour
.
Emma
’s conclusion was that
Emma’s conclusion was that
magpies don
y
’t mean to hurt us, the
magpies don’t mean to hurt us, they
are just protecting their babies.
are just protecting their babies.
“It was really fun doing this project.
“It was really fun doing this project.
I’ve been amazed that so many
I’v e been amazed that so man y