On Wednesday, Mrs. Jopson and Mrs. Cromarty took the Year 13 Biology students to the University of Otago to study the physiology of homeostasis with an emphasis on thermoregulation.

The morning was spent at the School of Physical Education where Dr. Cotter and his colleagues put the boys through their paces. They spent time in the flume, where some experienced the extremes of cold water and then jumping in warm water, while others had the opportunity to swim against a strong current. While doing this, their heart rate and temperature were monitored. Others exercised at three different paces while their breathing rate and heart rate where monitored in order to compare their metabolic output. 

In another group, boys cycled in an average temperature and others in a heat chamber which was 40 degrees Celsius. Several factors where measured and then compared.

In the afternoon, we made our way to the Department of Physiology. There, six of the boys cycled while breathing into a ‘Douglas Bag’. This allowed the exhaled air to be measured for oxygen and carbon dioxide levels while at rest, mild exercise and then strenuous exercise. The boys then spent time analysing the data and learning how their blood gases are regulated.