CSU Environmental Education Workshops

Key facts

6 schools were involved in these workshops

Approximately 120 students attended

The issue

Providing expert knowledge to various school groups of ranging ages can be challenging, whilst ensuring content is engaging and relevant.

It can also be difficult to find a common place for these types of activities to occur in a central location.

The Solution

On the 1st and 2nd of December 2020, Professor Robyn Watts (Charles Sturt University) conducted environmental science workshops with 6 local school groups. With students attending from Moulamein Public School, Wakool Burraboi Public School, Barham Public School and Barham High School, these workshops were delivered to a broad range of age groups.

Under a contract with a Commonwealth Environmental Water Officer to deliver on the Wakool River monitoring, engagement, and research project, these workshops provided students with an opportunity to learn about water species and water quality assessment.

The impact

These workshops saw the Murray Connect facility transformed into a science classroom. 35 microscopes were transported from the Charles Sturt Campus (Albury) to Barham, each strapped carefully into a bus seat for the journey. Under these microscopes, students studied fish larvae, small crustacea, and water bugs.

Several tanks of water were brought into Murray Connect. Students measured the oxygen content and overall quality of each tank, learning about the survival of aquatic species as impacted by water quality.

Learnings

With an approximate total of 120 students attending these workshops, the program provided a great opportunity to showcase Murray Connect and bring schoolchildren back into the retired St. Josephs building.

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