AUSMEPA eNewsletter Spring 2011

Spring is an exciting time and this issue of AUSMEPA E-News has some of very special items for teachers.

§   School grant opening

§   New Rockpool unit of work

§   AUSMEPA AGM & news from the Board

§   AMSA education materials

§   Ocean Whispers

NOW OPEN - Rhondda Alexander Memorial Education Grant 2012 

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

To find our more about the grant please visit our website here and to request an application form please email  education@ausmepa.org.au

MEDIA RELEASE:  ROCKPOOLS

Executive Director of AUSMEPA, Mr. Michael Julian said today how pleased he was to announce the release of the latest free educational resource about investigating rockpools, which is available to schools from the AUSMEPA websitewww.ausmepa.org.au/other.asp?pageId=33  

To see the full media release click here

AUSMEPA AGM AND NEWS FROM THE BOARD

At AUSMEPA's 10th AGM on 21 October, members re-elected Captain Conrad Saldanha (Origin Energy) as the Chairman and  also re-elected the same Board as for last year, namely Warwick Norman (RightShip) as Deputy Chairman, Karen Shaw (ASA) as Treasurer, Jim Huggett (MSQ) as Secretary, Michael Julian as Executive Director, and Kerry Dwyer, Ben Burns (SVITZER Australia) and Toby Stone (AMSA) as Board Members.

At the following Board and Advisory Committee meeting the budget for 2011/2012 was approved as was the recommendation to establish two working groups to develop  a three year strategic plan for AUSMEPA, covering its marine environment educational services to schools and seafarers. The AUSMEPA Board is keen to provide more information and marine environmental training services to seafarers. The Board also set up a small group to fully evaluate and assess the nominations for the AUSMEPA Environmental Award 2011/2012, which it will announce before the end of the year.

AUSMEPA is very pleased to welcome Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics as a new Gold Sponsor and looks forward to a strong partnership with them. To find out more about this major international shipping company which is one of the world's leaders in operating their ships in a very 'environmentally friendly' way see their website www.2wglobal.com 

FOR TEACHERS:

Great education resources at Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA)  
The trouble with acronyms is that you may find more than one. When doing an internet search on AMSA you may just turn up the Australian Marine Sciences Association rather than the national government authority, Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The Authority has some interesting and fun resources for both kids and teachers.

AMSA have several resources one is a page for kids here

Teachers page here

Fact Sheets

·   Ship Pollution Regulations

·   Oil Spills from Ships - Who Pays? [ PDF: 180Kb]

·   Australia's National Plan to Combat the Pollution of the Sea from Oil and Other Noxious and Hazardous Substances

·   How Australia responds to oil and chemical spills in the marine environment

·   Disposal of dry bulk cargo residues in Australian waters

·   Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas [ PDF: 171Kb]

OCEAN WHISPERS

Find links to the latest Ocean Whispers articles below

Media releases:

·   Rockpools – A new free educational resource for schools

Conservation action:

·   Australia's Sustainable Seafood Guide

·   Wetland Info

·   REPORT CARD: South East Queensland Healthy Waterways 2011

Education:

·   Sustainable Fishing Interactive Models

·   Introduction to Underwater Environmental Noise Course, Brisbane Nov 24 & 25

·   Integrated Water Management Scholarship

See also Investigating Rockpools here

Grants and awards:

·   Rhondda Alexander Grant Now Open

·   Rhondda Alexander Memorial Education Grant (RAMEG) awarded to Palm Beach Currumbin Senior High School

Shipping news:

·   Queensland; Pacific Adventurer Oil Spill Update

Ocean and animals:

·   ABC Science: Great Garbage Patch exposed

·   Investigating Rockpools       

·   TED TALK: Camille Seaman: Haunting photos of polar ice

·   REDMAP NEWSLETTER; What's on the move in Tasmania?

Organisations and events:

·   SPOTLIGHT ON: Reef Guardians and the Reef Beat Series  

·   Introduction to Underwater Environmental Noise Course

·   SPOTLIGHT ON: Central Coast Marine Discovery Centre, Terrigal NSW

·   GLOBAL OCEAN FORUM, RIO+20 Friends of the Ocean

Conferences:

·   STAVCON –  La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC. 28 & 29 Nov 2011

·   World Oceans Summit Capella Singapore 22-24 Feb 2012

·   RIO+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Brazil 4-6 June 2012

If you've been involved in something that helps keep our oceans healthy feel free to send an article and photo to education@ausmepa.org.au so that we can help celebrate with you.

www.ausmepa.org.au

INVESTIGATING ROCKPOOLS

How do plants and animals survive in a rockpool? Employing a student’s innate curiousity about the unusual AUSMEPA invite teachers to use discovery of intertidal wildlife to begin an exploration of science, ecological, environmental and conservation topics. AUSMEPA’s new unit of work ROCKPOOLS will stimulate a wide range of students. Our practical experience has shown us that many students who are difficult to engage on other topics warm quickly to this one. It is based on the study of one of natures most magical and exciting places to explore.

Research topic areas for enquiry based education include pages on a assortment of seemingly alien invertebrate and vertebrate animal types from some of the simplest up to some of the smartest. Rockpools are rich in animal foods too, like the lovely seaweeds and seagrasses brought to light in this unit.

Studded with wonderful original photos of rockpool inhabitants the webpages also feature photos of students deep in discovery of that unique place where the air the land and the sea meet.

Safety is a foundation topic and essential when considering a school excursion. To assist teachers in considering an excursion we have included links to some of the wonderful Marine Discovery and Environmental Education Centres around Australia.

However one of the most anticipated inclusions in this unit and of special interest to teachers will be the unpacking of the National Curriculum within the teachers notes provided in pdf format. We understand the accountability and reporting requirements for teachers and provision of this asset has been high on the list of teacher requests. The Contents of the download includes:

Rockpool poster on school request

• Australian Curriculum: Science Version 1.1 December 2010
• Incorporating The Australian Curriculum: Science
• Overarching Ideas ‐ Organisation of the unit of work
• Assessment ideas ‐ Classroom preparation
• Activities – Prior learning
• Student goals
• Tuning in
• Investigative questions
• Finding out – research  
• Finding out – field work planning
• Finding out – gathering data in the field  
• Finding out – analysing data
• Drawing conclusions, finding solutions
• Communication

Try it. We’re pretty sure you’ll like it. You can find it here

ROCKPOOLS - A window to another world

Little wonder Rockpools are popular places to visit and explore. Being alert and gentle in this very harsh and demanding habitat can yield exciting and sometimes surprising discoveries. The photos included here are from a very low tide at the edge of a SE Queensland suburb. On this winters day corals and their relatives, tunicates (sea squirts) and an amazing variety of life provided a colourful tapestry.

Later in the year AUSMEPA is looking forward to presenting a unit of work on Rockpools that is bound to whet the appetite for later in 2010.

In the meantime be sure to make good use of the marine conservation information libraries that are available as integral parts of the AUSMEPA free online school marine study units for middle year students (click here).