Storytelling boosts scientific literacy

Nerida came across this interesting article on storytelling and how it can keep students engaged in science.

Professor Stephen Ritchie from Queensland University of Technology’s Faculty of Education is leading a team examining how emotional learning through storytelling and other strategies can enhance scientific literacy.  There is a declining interest in senior secondary science courses, and this is having a flow-on effect to universities, contributing to skills shortages and a lack of understanding about science issues in society.  Professor Ritchie says:

“What we know is while Australian students do fairly well in most measures of scientific literacy on international tests, they become disengaged as the curriculum becomes more formal….Students lose interest in science in years 8, 9 and 10. That has a flow-on effect to their subject choices in year 11 and 12 and career choices for university.”

Through this work Ritchie says that what they hope to do is to:

“… provide the students with opportunities to engage emotionally in science activities.  One way we can do this is getting students to write ‘hybridised stories’ where technical, scientific information is merged with everyday language on topics relevant to them.”

This hybridised approach is one that we use all the time at the ARRC, as we find it is the best way to bring ‘facts and figures’ to life, and for the science we have on river restoration to be made relevant and interesting to people.  What we really like about Ritchie’s approach is that he is thinking about the future, as he says:

“If you really want kids to become scientifically literate and engaged meaningfully in community decisions and intelligent debate as adults, we need to teach them how to access reputable information and apply it.”

These children are our future and we wholeheartedly endorse the thinking and intent behind this project.

To find out more about this work follow this link

Nerida and Siwan

Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Climate Change Adaptation Network

The Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity adaptation network brings together Australia’s top water scientists with interests and skills in water resources and freshwater biodiversity, and the implications of climate change. There is an urgent need to understand the risks to Australia’s surface and groundwater resources and freshwater biodiversity due to climate change (in the context of other pressures) as well as the technical and policy interventions that will be required to meet future human water needs without further degrading freshwater ecosystems and the important natural assets and values they provide. The primary goals of the network are to:

• facilitate the development of collaborative and cross-disciplinary research at the national scale;
• build research capacity through support and mentoring of early career scientists;
• synthesise relevant knowledge to give Australian water and biodiversity managers the best chance of coping with a difficult climate future.

You can also find an expert on a particular aspect of climate change adaptation in the water resources and freshwater biodiversity theme, to do so please email climate.water@griffith.edu.au with details, or follow this link for more information.

Bird’s eye view of Lake Eyre

Last weekend I had the most amazing three day trip with my Mum (Jinnie), and fellow tour goers Lyn, Peter, Moya and Stewart.  Our trip was with Brindabella Airlines and our pilot Ben made us feel like we were living the lifestyle of the ‘rich and famous’ as we flew out to Lake Eyre in our 7 seater plane “Wally” so named because she is registered Whisky Alpha Lima (WAL).

Lake Frome

Now I promise I am not boasting, but I have to tell you about this trip because it was truly wonderful, and I encourage you to save up and go for yourself – a ‘bird’s eye view’ really is the best way to see these fabulous landscapes transformed by water.

Arkaroola, Flinders Ranges

We left Canberra on a cold morning at 5.30am and headed across to Broken Hill for some morning tea and to fill up the plane (so weird stopping the plane next to the pump like in a service station).  On we went  to the Flinders Ranges where we visited Arkaroola, a geologists heaven!  On the way we crossed over a very full looking Menindee Lakes, as well as seeing beautiful Lake Frome, that was iridescent with the sun sparkling on all that salt.

Day two, and we flew over the Flinders Ranges to Marree where we were met by a guide for a land tour out  to the shore of Lake Eyre – it was so incredible to be standing on the shoreline of such an iconic place. The water is extremely salty, and all along the shoreline there are samphire bushes, daises and interesting rock formations, as well as the salt crystals catching the light.  After standing on the shoreline it was a joy to then fly over and see Cooper Creek almost, but not quite seeping into the lake.

We flew at a range of different heights, 500 metres up to 5000 metres, and the view was spectacular, close up to the lake you can see the channels and patterns in the sand, as well as the birds.  High up you see the magnificent scale of Lake Eyre, the rivers running in to it, the small islands and the interplay of salt and sand.

Lake Eyre

We flew from Lake Eyre across to Wilpena Pound, arriving as the sun was setting on the escarpment – truly magnificent.  Day two ended with us flying through a rainbow, which was a surreal experience as the arch of the rainbow went right around us.  Wilpena is lovely and I have never been before, certainly somewhere to go back to.

Wilpena Pound

Day three we walked into the Pound and were transfixed by the beauty of this not often talked about special place.  That afternoon we headed home after a flight over Wilpena Pound and then back to Broken Hill.  We were home by 8.00pm after some cloud surfing to avoid a few thunderstorms.

"Wally" and Co

Thank you to Ben our great pilot for looking after us so well!  Thanks also to my tour companions, and especially my Mum for asking me to share this experience with her.  I have come back inspired and excited about our wonderful inland…also thinking that I might need to get a pilot’s licence ……

Siwan

Managing wetlands workshop : Canberra 6 September 2011

Invitation : The National Water Commission would be delighted if you are able to attend the managing wetlands workshop they are organising to assist wetland and environmental water management practitioners.  To find out more, register and view the invitation, program and other relevant information visit:

Wetlands Workshop

If you know others who may be interested in this workshop, please circulate this invitation across your networks. Please register by 23 August 2011.

 This workshop is a unique opportunity to learn about the new products and tools for wetland managers and the science underpinning them. The event is a chance for environmental water and wetland managers to engage with experts and scientists in the fields of wetland and environmental water management, explore topics of interest and gain hands-on experience of the tools. The opportunity to meet with peers and develop professional networks is also a primary goal for the workshop. This is an event not to be missed.

The new knowledge being shared at the workshop relates directly to the five priority knowledge issues identified by members of the Environmental Water Managers Community of Practice.

1.     Managing environmental water allocations (Sulfidic Sediments in Inland Waterways – Baldwin and Nias)

2.     Understanding and identifying flow/ecology relationships (Water regime of wetland and floodplain plants: a new source book – Roberts and Marston and Watering Floodplain Wetlands in the Murray-Darling Basin for Native Fish – Gawne and Beesley)

3.     Using monitoring to improve flow/allocation regimes (Adaptive management of wetlands and rivers – the role of waterbirds as indicators – Kingsford and Framework and Assessment of Wetland and Riverine Health – An Australian Perspective – Taylor)

4.     Managing water on a whole-of-catchment basis (Australian Environmental Water Management – highlights from the 2010 report)

5.     Explaining outcomes and benefits of environmental water to the community (Cultural Flows: a Practitioners Perspective, Aboriginal Engagement in Water Planning and Recognising Ecosystem Service Benefits and Values in Water Planning)

This workshop is a free event, and numbers are limited so register early.  If you would like more information email wetlands@nwc.gov.au.