Studies by the seasons
STUDENTS at a Hobart high school have played a key role in developing a citizen science project aimed at tracking climate change impacts.
Taroona High School and the Taroona Environment Network worked with environmental organisation Earthwatch to develop Tasmania’s first ClimateWatch Trail.
Teacher Alyce Lamprecht worked with Year 9 and 10 students to pitch the project to the school association, receiving a grant to deliver a monitoring trail on school grounds.
Ms Lamprecht said the program was trialled last year with Taroona Primary School students, and would be rolled out to Year 7 students this year.
“We’re looking at phenology, which is the changing of the seasons, which is something that is happening with climate change,’’ Ms Lamprecht said.
Community members enjoying the Taroona Foreshore Track can also report ClimateWatch sightings through a free mobile app or website, contributing to a larger national project.
Data gathered will eventually be validated and submitted to the Atlas of Living Australia, a biodiversity knowledge bank.
Student Mackenna Minstrell, 15, has been actively involved in the program and is passionate about the issue.
“Climate change and environmental sustainability is something I’ve always been really passionate about, and I think it’s really important that everyone can understand what’s going on in the world around them,’’ Mackenna said.