Fish and People, a new educational resource.

Here is some information about how the Solomon Islands are working on improving their marine ecosystem health through education and action thanks to Oceans IQ and James Cook University.



View more here.


www.ausmepa.org.au

AUSMEPA making a difference in the USA

Working to make a difference sometimes feels like calling out in the dark. Is anyone listening? Then you recieve a communication like this...

Hi there, I wanted to send you a 'thank you' for your webpage (http://www.ausmepa.org.au/australian-marine-environment-protection-association-links.htm). I am a mentor for a group of students at an after school program, and I've recently been teaching them about marine and how all species are affected when we don't take care of our planet. I just wanted to let you know that your information on ocean conservation has been a big help!

One of my students (Andrea) took a lot of this information to heart and brought in an article to teach the class about ocean pollution. I think it would also be helpful to your visitors as well! "Clean Our Oceans: The Impact of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch" - http://www.bbcleaningservice.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch.html

Would you mind including the article on your page for me? I thought that it would fit in well with your information, and she would be proud to see that she is able to help make a difference in the world. Let me know if you get the chance to update - and thanks again for the great website!

Have a great day,
-Joan

Thanks, Joan for your support and right back atcha. The web link you provided has lots more information of interest to teachers and students.

www.ausmepa.org.au

Seagrass Blue Carbon Blues

Seagrasses are a vitally important component of healthy coastal waters. They've been described as the 'canaries' of the sea and revered as indicators of healthy or unhealthy systems. Students may find this clip, from the Intergation and Application Network, a different way to take in some special information about why we need to keep an eye on them. Perhaps it might inspire some students to try their own hand at creating a marine story in song?



www.ausmepa.org.au

Marine activities for primary school aged children

AUSMEPA is a good source for marine education materials for primary and middle school students.

Since the early 2000's teachers have been able to source free posters sets that correspond to free online units of work related to stormwater run-off, marine pests and threats, coral bleaching and climate change, rockpools, ships and ports and the marine environment. They simply email info@ausmepa.org.au with their name, school, address and telephone number.

Last year the poster portfolio was upgraded and new primary posters were created to meet demand from our clients for single animals. Fact sheets that accompany the new posters are below.

Anemonefish
Cuttlefish
Dangers
Hermit crab
Fairy penguin
Seahorses and seadragons
Sharks and Rays
Turtle


The primary posters were a sensation and we were inundated with requests for education units and activities for all levels of primary students to go with the new posters can be found here.


www.ausmepa.org.au

KIDS INVESTIGATING SEA SOLUTIONS (KISS)

AUSMEPA has launched a new flexible student website for helping our marine here environment. It will support a wide range of marine issues that are of ongoing interest as well as those that become topical over time. The main areas of interest will include action projects, habitats, marine creatures and other topics that spring up all the time.  

Mangroves, a marine and coastal issue that students and communities can relate to, have started off the new webpages. The values of mangroves are poorly understood and are far more valuable than people assume. Areas that would be covered:

• The importance of mangroves as habitat, fish resources, barrier to storms and tsunamis and a carbon sink.
• Why mangroves are threatened.
• What are mangroves and where they occur?
• Mangrove adaptations including examples of life cycles.
• How saltmarshes are associated with mangroves and their conservation.
• Animals dependant on mangroves including aquatic and are breathing animals.
• What is being done and what communities and schools are doing to conserve mangroves. 
• Community projects, organisations, links and references

This topic can be fitted into a number of areas in science and geography of the Australian Curriculum.

Art and craft activities 

At AUSMEPA we are well aware that implementing many learning styles gives students a better way to embed and communicate what they have learned and it can be lots of imaginative fun.

The new KISS webpages include art and craft activities here under the KISS Craft tab.

Current activities begin looking at elements related to denizens and habitats of the open ocean, coral reefs, rocky reefs, seagrass and wetlands.

www.ausmepa.org.au

HEALTHY REEFS FROM POLYP TO POLICY

CoralWatch has just released the unit plan "Healthy Reefs from Polyp to Policy". 

This unit plan focuses on Grade 11 and 12 Marine Science and is linked to the Marine Science Senior Syllabus 2013, produced by Queensland Studies Authority, Australia.

‘Healthy Reefs - from Polyp to Policy’ contains lessons and activities that allow students to explore the definitions and determinants of reef health—from how the biology of corals is influenced by the environment, through to local and regional approaches to management of reef threats.

The unit plan is available for free. You can obtain it by emailing info@coralwatch.org and requesting an electronic EOI-form to complete.

Imagine taking your students out on the reef to do important and serious work that is incredibly enjoyable too.

Visit the Coral Watch website at 
http://www.coralwatch.org/web/guest;jsessionid=ED488C75444230F81345D82400AD2FCE



www.ausmepa.org.au

CARING FOR CORALS

EDUCATION WORKSHOP

          
           • One-day workshop for senior science, marine and geography teachers, or any teacher wanting to 
             find out more about reef science.

           • Includes hands-on field and classroom activities and take-home materials.

This workshop includes an academic, practical and field session. It will focus on colours on the reef, reef health, threats to reefs, coral bleaching and the importance of reef conservation. You will learn how to use tools such as the Virtual Reef and the CoralWatch website for CoralWatching in the classroom. 

The workshop also shows how the Coral Health Chart and the CoralWatch Reef Education Package can be easily integrated into your field-based activities. Lesson plans for classroom and field activities will be made available.

Learning outcomes:
• Find out about the latest science on the status of reefs and reef conservation
• Learn how to apply CoralWatch tools and materials to the new curriculum
• Get the tools and knowledge you need to engage your students in a global reef monitoring program

Venue: Moreton Bay Research Station, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Costs: $400.00 (incl.GST) 
Early bird fee $275.00 (before 21st of August)

Includes: One day workshop with lunch and refreshments. and a range of take-home materials. 
Please bring your own laptop (if available)

Size: Limited to 20 participants

For more information, contact Diana Kleine (course coordinator) at CoralWatchd.kleine@uq.edu.au or phone 07 3365 3127

Register your interest today
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return the following information to CoralWatch to register your interest 

Name: 
Email:
Position: School:
Address:
Does this date suit you?  Yes  No 
Does this venue suit you?  Yes  No
Comments:

 Please add my email address to your mailing list:

www.ausmepa.org.au

SPOTLIGHT ON: SeaWeb as a learning resource

Students, teachers and seafarers wishing to look beyond the AUSMEPA curriculum units on Marine Pests and Threats and Marine Stormwater Pollution for further information may find SeaWeb an excellent resource.

Although US based, SeaWeb are exclusively dedicated to communicating workable, science-based solutions to ocean threats. These threats are largely common throughout the entire marine environment.

They have five newsletters and of note is the Marine Science Review, providing citations and abstracts from influential marine science research.

An extract from the Marine Science Review in July 2013 (below) focuses on Introduced Species with research information about pollution from ship ballast and hulls.

July 9, 2013

Introduced Species

• Invasion Science
• Invasiveness
• Occurrence and Establishment
• Vectors and Pathways
• Ballast Water: Issues and Management
• Impacts
• Introduced Species and Climate Change
• Introduced Species and Disease
• Management

Also of note within the SeaWeb Resources page is the Ocean Issue Briefs page with the following links of note on land-based pollution topics.  

Marine Pollution

• Chemical Pollution and Marine Mammals (2008)
• Contaminated Sediments (2004)
• The Gulf of Mexico 'Dead Zone' (2008)
• Harmful Algal Blooms and Toxins (2007)
• Marine Arctic Contamination (2000)
• Marine Debris (2008)
• Nonpoint Source Pollution and Coastal Environments (2000)
• Nutrients (2002)
• Ports & Dredging (2004)
• Toxic Chemical Pollution (2002)

www.ausmepa.org.au

Seafarers Refresher Educational Training Package

AUSMEPA  MEDIA RELEASE

This media release is issued by the

Australian Marine Environment

Protection Association (AUSMEPA)

For further information contact: JULIE NASH

Acting Executive Director

Mobile: 0412 876109                julienash@ausmepa.org.au 

                                                                                                                     

AUSMEPA’s electronic ‘Seafarers Refresher Educational Training Package’

AUSMEPA has the aim of informing and assisting the officers and crew of its member-vessels and other vessels transiting Australian waters.

 

AUSMEPA is now providing its member-companies and others with the Association’s latest electronic publication titled “A Refresher Training Guide for Seafarers on Ships in Australian Waters”. This has been produced in collaboration with AMSA (the Australian Maritime Safety Authority) and HELMEPA (the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association).

Australian waters cover an area of approximately 14 million square kilometers and feature a wide variety of climatic, oceanographic and geographical characteristics. They hold a rare biodiversity of terrestrial and marine species, together with the world’s largest “living organism” – The Great Barrier Reef, our natural wonder that has been evolving for more than one million years. The Great Barrier Reef must be navigated safely with respect and care, given that Australia depends on the shipping industry for the transportation of approximately one billion tonnes of raw materials and products each year both imports and exports through our ports.

Besides the requirements of IMO, the Guide also comprises of Australian legislation and MARPOL requirements regarding ship tracking and reporting systems, navigation in the inner routes of the Great Barrier Reef, ballast water management, biofouling and the permissible draught of ships in Torres Strait.

AUSMEPA’s intention is that the new Guide will also facilitate and assist all seafarers transiting Australian waters, in their effective cooperation with AMSA for the promotion of the common goal of safe navigation and pollution prevention, especially in the sensitive marine areas of this vast continent. It is available in Chinese, English, Greek, Japanese, Russian and Ukrainian.

www.ausmepa.org.au

SPOTLIGHT ON: Holloways Beach Environmental Education Centre

Louise admiring some of the excellent posters created by students

Queensland, Australia, is luckier than most to have 26 environmental and outdoor education centres spread throughout the state. 

The most northerly of these is Holloways Beach in Far North Queensland near Cairns. Off shore lies the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

The centre is a camp for all of the schools in the Cairns area as well as a day excursion destination.

Boating skills, science studies. leadership and sustainability activities make the centre a popular draw card for students in the region. Along with a diverse natural area to explore the camp has a variety of aquarium specimens including 'Snappy Tom' the baby crocodile and a touch tank. 

Touch tank

Snappy Tom

Like all Environmental Centres around Australia, Holloways Beach are invited to receive AUSMEPA's free poster packs as either pre or post visit resources for visiting schools.





www.ausmepa.org.au

CoralWatch - Guide for Education and Awareness

2nd Edition

AUSMEPA friends, CoralWatch, would like to announce that they have just released the second edition of their book "Coral Reefs and Climate Change - the Guide for Education and Awareness".  The second edition has been fully updated to include the latest scientific findings and new sections. All books come with a coral health chart.

The highly regarded book is beautifully illustrated bringing coral reef science to students and general public. It is 262 pages and has chapters on oceanography, coral reef biology and ecology, climate change and approaches to conservation.   

The book can be purchased alone or as a set with an educational DVD series. The DVDs contain 22 short videos (3-8 minutes each) covering key topics from the book, and incorporates interviews with scientists and animated diagrams to bring the science to life.

2012 prices will hold through to the end of February. Find the link to the current book and DVD order form here.   

A great compliment to AUSMEPA's unit of work The Effects of Climate Change on Coral Bleaching here


www.ausmepa.org.au

GBRMPA Science Teaching Units cover a range of Reef related topics from Year 1 - 10

AUSMEPA is proud of it's partnership with GBRMPA in marine education and very pleased to share information on their wonderful units of work available for schools.

  

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Science Teaching Units

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Science Teaching Units (Version 0.2), are now available on the GBRMPA web http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/resources-and-publications/student-and-teacher-resources/science-teaching-units.

The focus of these Units has been developed from the Key Focus Areas of the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2009. The Units encourage students, teachers and their communities to follow the main aim of Reef Guardians – to be stewards of the environment.

The Science Teaching Units cover a range of Reef related topics from Year 1 - 10:

-       Year 1 - Habitat Investigations

-       Year 3 - Exploring the Reef

-       Year 4 - Endangered Species: Marine Turtles

-       Year 5 - Animal Adaptations

-       Year 6 - Let's go Fishing

-       Year 7 - Wetlands

-       Year 8 - Coral Bleaching

-       Year 9 - Ecosystems and

-       Year 10 - Climate Change.

The Early Years Activities (Foundation Year – Year 2) may be used as single science lessons or to create a series of lessons. The Year 11 and 12 Investigations Tasks may be used as either Extended Experimental Investigations or Extended Research Tasks to support the needs of students in science based units of work.

The content descriptors for these units are from the Australian Science Curriculum Version 2.0 www.australiancurriculum.edu.au. Following the inquiry based 5Es approach to teaching science, the units are based on the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) expectations of a minimum time per week assigned to science lessons for students in each grade level. The overall units or the individual lessons could be extended or shortened to cater for individual classes as deemed necessary by the class teacher. The Units include a resource section with a guide to making judgements and links to QSA Literacy Indicators.

The Science Teaching Units are revolving documents and will continue to be updated as new information becomes available on the Australian Science Curriculum.  

If you are using these Units or parts of the Units we would be interested to hear from you. Please contact reefguardians@gbrmpa.gov.au if you would like to provide feedback.

Regards,

Carolyn Luder

A/Project Manager

Reef Guardian Schools

Stakeholder Engagement and Stewardship

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

2-68 Flinders St Townsville |  PO Box 1379 Townsville QLD 4810

Phone:    (07) 4750 0792

Fax:        (07) 4772 6093

Mobile:  0418731989

Email:    carolyn.luder@gbrmpa.gov.au



www.ausmepa.org.au

CORALWATCH Educational Video Series

Anyone who hasn't had a chance to see this resource is in for a pleasant surprise. The Coral Watch folks have packaged up a terrific series of informational themes about the environment. 

The DVD is reasonably priced and you can find out how to get your own copy here.

www.ausmepa.org.au

AUSMEPA enters the PRIMEZONE portal

AUSMEPA has now entered the primezone education portal. It is about time for you to explore it here


Primezone provides teachers with single-point access to a range of primary industries education resources here. This website is an initiative of the Primary Industries Education Foundation, a national not-for-profit company with government, industry and education membership.

AUSMEPA resources can be found at each of the designated age levels and you'll find some excellent inspiration from many of the other resources on these pages.


1. School resources


2. Resources for Foundation Year-Year 2

3. Resources for Years 3-4


4. Resources for Years 5-6

5. Resources for Years 7-8

6. Resources for Years 9-10

7. Resources for Years 11-12

Many thanks to primezone for putting together this wonderful educational resource.

www.ausmepa.org.au

Space invaders; marine pests

AUSMEPA are strong supporters and education partners with Marine Discovery Centres Australia. Below find news about some lesson plans out of Western Australia that may excite science teachers as suggested on MDCA news page here

Marine Pests…

February 16th, 2012

To kick off the new school year, Marine WATERs (West­ern Aus­tralian Teacher Edu­ca­tion Resources) presents their lat­est suite of edu­ca­tion mate­ri­als on Marine Pests. Check out the Pest Con­trol Les­son Plan, Intro­duced Marine Species Fact Sheet and their most excit­ing inter­ac­tive resource yet – the ‘Pest Line-up’ game!

Marine WATERs is an ini­tia­tive of the Depart­ment of Fish­eries, WA and Wood­side Energy. An inter­ac­tive and fully inte­grated resource that con­nects edu­ca­tors and stu­dents with resources and tools devel­oped specif­i­cally to study West­ern Australia’s unique marine ecosys­tems and address chal­lenges fac­ing the sus­tain­abil­ity of our aquatic resources.

Teachers may like to check out AUSMEPA's Marine Pests and Threats units here




www.ausmepa.org.au

ONLINE ISLAND GAMES

Westport High School are committed to marine education. They are investing time and energy into writing up some materials specific to LADY MUSGRAVE ISLAND, QLD. See the online activities page courtesy of G Hargreaves and click here to go to the pages

home

great barrier reef

staying at the island

animals

conservation

activities

Reef in full light	ACTIVITIES As you snorkel or scuba the reef slope at very low tide and looking into the bright sun you experience a new world of the busy, the secretive and the strange. Homes will be defended, you will frighten some residents and there may be a few friendy oestheichthyes. Don't believe the bad press about sharks although remember they are predators!	Finding the habitats, location and biodiversity of anemone fish is a challenge.  Observing noddy terns will give insight into their complex behaviour.  Watch myriad hermit crabs decide their lives on the edge of the shingle as the tide moves in and out.  Reef walk and code the colour of corals to build a database about bleaching. .
Most activities require the latest version of Adobe Flash Player. You can download it for free from the Adobe website. Slider Puzzles - Noddy Tern Green turtle the original fish Flash Quiz - test your knowledge on all things Lady Musgrave Memory Squares - how's your Barrier Reef memory? Crossword Puzzle - are you the reef master? Word Search - can you find all of the coral reef words? Hangman - test your coral reef knowledge Colouring Page - colour the damsel before she swims away... Jigsaw Puzzle - help rebuild the reef... PacShark - it's a feeding frenzy as the sharks turn on each other...

www.ausmepa.org.au

Rhondda Alexander Memorial Education Grant now open

Following Rhondda Alexander's tragic death in July 2010, the Australian Marine Environmental Protection Association (AUSMEPA) Board agreed to establish a memorial to Rhondda in the form of an annual Grant.

AUSMEPA is proud to announce the second round of grant nominations is now open. We invite Australia schools to submit applications. 

The 2012 closing date for applications will be in midway through Term 1, and received by close of business Thursday 1^st of March.

ABOUT THE GRANT

The following information and criteria will be helpful to those schools considering projects for submission during 2012.  A grant amount of up to $3,000 will be awarded to a school marine education project that leads to students actively improve the marine environment. This can include educating the local community and other behaviour change activities.  

Main criteria:

1.      Students must have a major role in organising the project.

2.      On completion of their project the students will create a video clip communication product suitable to be placed on the AUSMEPA website. Permission slips will be required.

3.      The project must have a major coastal conservation application either by direct action or involvement with community education (they have equal weight).

4.      The innovative approach to the project has application to other schools.

5.      The quality of the project content, outcomes and outputs.

6.      The grant money should used for resources not already available at school however may be used for example to go towards purchasing or hiring equipment that the school would not normally have.

7.      The application must be fully completed, signed and dated by the school Principal.

Other important information

1. All applications must have both a concise and a detailed description of the student project. Details of expected educational outcomes for students and how this project links to marine conservation must be outlined.
2.  An individual teacher needs to be designated as project leader and primary contact between AUSMEPA and the school.
3. There must be a budget showing how the grant will be spent. There is no requirement to find matching funding. It is anticipated that some projects may find small unexpected variations in expenditure. Please note there is no requirement to obtain any additional funding however if other sources of funding are made available these should be detailed in the budget.
4. The project may be undertaken with a community partner. If there is a partner, details of their role and support needs to be included in the application
5. Supporting documentation can be provided as an attachment however the primary assessment will be restricted to the application information.  NOTE:  The application may also be supported by a presentation prepared by the students using one media of their choice to explain why their project is important. Examples of media could include video clip, PowerPoint presentation, song, poem, poster, or postcard etc.
6. Principal’s signature is required to confirm that the project has the full support and encouragement of the school community. The Principal will supervise the expenditure of the grant taking into account there may be variations that the school will be responsible for resolving.
7. The project will be considered to be concluded upon confirmed receipt of the student’s video clip communication about the project, accompanied by Parent Permission Slips for student images and budget sign-off by the Principal.

To register your interest please email education@ausmepa.org.au to register your interest and an electronic application form will be sent to you.

www.ausmepa.org.au