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Monash Science Centre

Water Science for Secondary Schools
 

Water Science Program for Secondary Schools

Dr Ross Thompson and PhD Student Susie Ho
Testing water quality at the Jock Marshall Reserve.

Welcome to the Monash Science Centre Water Science Program for Secondary Schools.

This program aims to bring current research based science to Year 9 and 10 secondary school students and teachers around the theme of Water Science. The program is done at the Monash Science Centre in conjunction with scientists from the Monash University Freshwater Ecology Research Group on an ecological restoration project at the Jock Marshall Scientific Reserve (JMR). The Monash Science Centre and the JMR are located on the Monash University Clayton Campus.

School Excursion

As part of the program, secondary school students will visit the JMR to gain an understanding of highly topical water quality issues, biology and chemistry skills.

The excursion incorporates a two hour visit comprising:

  • A lecture by a University scientist at the Monash Science Centre
  • A tour and water sampling at the reserve
  • Biology and chemistry testing of samples back at the Monash Science Centre.

The cost for the two hour excursion is $360 (ex GST) with a maximum of 30 students plus teachers. All equipment/consumables for sampling and testing are included in the cost.

Following the excusion, the program provides an opportunity for students to undertake a water science project of their own back in the classroom using either the data gained from the excursion, or data and information from the Web Based e-Learning component of the program (see below).

Web Based e-Learning

An additional component of the program is the e-learning web based interface to the JMR where students can take a virtual tour of the reserve and download water quality data samples. These samples can be used in the classroom to futher explore water science.

This component of the program is available on this website for use by schools at no cost due to the support of the program funding partners.

  
Program Funding

This program was funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) as part of their Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics (ASISTM) Program.

The Monash University Freshwater Ecology Research Group provides in-kind support for the program through the provision of:

  • Scientific intellectual content for the development and implementation of the program.
  • Access to the Jock Marshall Reserve

Water Flow Animation of the Jock Marchall Reserve provided by the Berwick School of Information Technology, Berwick Campus.

Educational input and expertise has been provided by Dr Amanda Berry, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Monash University.