Thermoregulation Investigations at the University

The Year 13 Biology class recently visited the PE school at the University of Otago as part of their studies on thermoregulation.

Students participated in three different activities that measured the effects of temperature on athletes. 

• Station 1 had a student swimming and moving between a flume pool at body temperature, into a plunge pool at around 12 degrees Celsius and finally into a spa pool around 45 degrees to see the effects of immersion in cold vs warm water.

  
  

• A volunteer worked out on a treadmill in station 2. The volume of oxygen and carbon dioxide was measured, and others calculated energy expenditure and heat load. 

  
  

• Finally, students experienced a climate chamber to investigate acclimatisation to temperature. 

Our very own Hayley Roding took the opportunity to swim in the flume and experience world record speeds. A rather courageous move!

This was an excellent opportunity for students to gain a more thorough understanding of thermoregulatory processes in our bodies ahead of writing their final assessment. A very big thank you to the team from PE School, which included ex Head Boy Nick Parata.