OUASSA- Day 2

 Todays workshops, activities and presentations were centred around Citizen Science. This is about using data collected, analysed and interpreted by students. We heard from a range of Community Projects which are using student data and input to help make a difference in the community, especially around the environment and sustainable practices. As well as participating in two examples when we were at the Albatross Colony at Taiaroa Head.  

We listened to 5 talks in the morning all based on Citizen Science:

1. Healthy Harbour Watchers- this was a project where students monitor water quality around Otago Harbour, collecting samples of: Nitrates, Phosphate, Enterococci, chlorophyll a (using phytoplankton), pH and turbidity. Information collected can be used to analyse changes in the harbour due to pollutants etc. And is all available on the Otago University Chemistry Department website. 
2. Air Quality Project- Really cool! Otago Physics department using Quantum physics to develop tools for "Healthy Air for Healthy Lives". A sensor box made with a Light Emitting Diode, Arduino and lithium battery, to figure out what pollutants are in the air (particulates) by measuring the refraction/scatter of light.  This data can be used to inform decisions around health. For example, a school encourage students to walk on one side of the road to school and the otherside on the way home as there was significant differences in particulates depending on working traffic. Students could use this to approach councils and authorities. It is a very topical issue considering that morbidity from Covid-19 is linked to air quality/pollution. Project has ability to supply, but cannot post as lithium batteries can't fly.
3. Halo Project- Similar to #1. Looking at water quality in tributaries, by using schools to collect data. These schools were mainly primary's, and it was cool to see the analysis they were capable to getting. They used ArcGIS story maps to digitise what they were finding. Goals of this programme were: To explore + understand water catchments, Learn about ecosystems. They used the SHMAK equipment from NIWA to analyse invertebrates, phosphate + nitrate, and the substrate. Once again the students used data to educate community and make proposals to local authorities. 
4. Tomahawk Lagoon- This project was also water quality, but mostly by High School students. Developed due to water quality issues due to algal blooms. Students collected on chlorophyll a, phosphate, nitrate, e.coli, pH, temp etc... and used information to report to council about trends and impacts on the lagoon. 
5. Soil Your Undies Otago- This project was about testing soil quality using the cotton strip test (by burying cotton undies). The more the undies have decomposed over 6weeks the healthier the soil, and the healthier the soil the less issues there will be in the greater ecosystem. The ladies discussed the importance of community involvement, curious minds (or other funds) and catchment groups on getting projects running, as well as places to consider for funding. 

It was really cool to learn more about some of the projects being done, as well as ideas of things that can be implemented as part of our courses, and how activities could be made to be more meaningful. 

Once we got out to Taiaroa Head, we learnt about two more projects: Litter Intelligence and Marine Metre Squared. These were two projects that could easily be incorporated into the Level 2 Rocky Shore Internal, and Litter Intelligence has the potential to be used for all sorts of year levels and topics. It was fascinating to think how the data and analysis done could be used to inform decisions and policies at a range of levels. 

The information collected by Litter Intelligence has been used to change behaviours of the hospitality industry on the waterfront in Wellington, internationally for Wagamama's which has reduced the number of plastic straws used (less 7.9million per year!), and the UN uses the data to look at issues around litter. 

Marine Metre Squared, is a platform for adding transect and quadrat data into a database that records on diversity and abundance of species along shorelines. It also helps to identify species. The website also has videos, a guide book, and
resources for the project and Level 2 Rocky Shore unit. This was very helpful for revamping my unit for this year, so I am excited to better help my students prepare for their field trip, as well as use the Mm2 platform for sharing data and keeping a record of it over the years. Sally Carson, from Portobello education, is available to help ID species, but can also upload to INaturalist app to get ID. 

 

We also were lucky enough to tour around and see the nesting Red-Billed Gulls and the Royal Albatrosses.