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🎧 PODCAST CATCHUP! 🎧 . There are some fabulo

🎧 PODCAST CATCHUP! 🎧
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There are some fabulous episodes ready for your listening pleasure on Curiosity Built The Boilerhouse.
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Our podcast features ~25 minute interviews with leaders in education, science engagement, future thinking, early childhood and all things STEAM.
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Check in for new conversations with:
Ben Newsome of Fizzics Education
Stuart Creal from Science Space Wollongong
Kristin Alford at MOD.
John Stewart, Conductor at @livingschoolbyron
John Marsden, author & Principal at Candlebark and
@alicemillerschool
Galia Urquhart from Yarm Gwanga, early childhood education centre at UNE.
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All these people, philosophies and research help inform the design and business of the Boilerhouse Discovery Space, currently on track for construction in 2022!
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#learningthroughplay #unediscovery #uneboilerhouse #unediscoveryvoyager #regionalnsw #tourismnsw #steam

💧💦💧 Water water everywhere - H2Woah! The

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Water water everywhere - H2Woah!
The recent heavy rains and flooding not only put a dampener on the Discovery Voyager team heading out to schools on the North coast last week, but got us thinking about our soon-to-be-rolled-out water conservation activity.
Much of NSW was in the grip of drought when we put together 'Droughtwise - Saving for a Rainy Day', then Covid19 put a stop to us introducing this activity in 2020.
With a slight rejig, we can't wait to explore with students the AWESOMENESS of water with our newly-aptly-named activity, H2Woah!

Small schools rock! At Stratford Public School tod

Small schools rock! At Stratford Public School today we rolled out our new activity, Think Like a Rock. Hands-on puzzling and playing got us all thinking about the stories that rocks tell us, just through the way they look and feel. Playing mathematically with planets was also on the menu.

Nothing beats one of those days when a young stude

Nothing beats one of those days when a young student says, unprompted, "I'm going to be a scientist when I grow up!" Playing with pH indicator and coding with busybots certainly switched on today's budding scientists at Lansdowne Public School. 🙂💡👩‍🔬 🤗

Creative kids at Coopernook Public School explore

Creative kids at Coopernook Public School explore soil at a microbial level .... and loving washing up after Creative Chemistry when foam creations grow out of the drains.

"Look what I caught!" Proud as punch to show off t

"Look what I caught!" Proud as punch to show off the catch, this little fella seemed to have bitten off more than he could chew.

We're so looking forward to visiting our first sch

We're so looking forward to visiting our first schools for the year this week. Travels to Taree required a nature stop at Apsley Falls outside Walcha. A suspension bridge stimulated our inner engineer, and we wondered at the layers of slate formations, creating steps for falling water. Aaaaah ... ready for science play 2021! See you at school! 🌿🤗🌿

BOILERHOUSE UPDATE! . We've been excited to host h

BOILERHOUSE UPDATE!
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We've been excited to host here at University of New England, AU the architectural team leading the design of the Boilerhouse Discovery Space, and primary philanthropic donor, Christopher Abbott of The Abbott Foundation.
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Plans and concepts are coming along beautifully, and we are confident that the Boilerhouse will emerge as a unique and iconic must-visit destination in our region.
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If you're tuning in to the Boilerhouse podcast - CURIOSITY BUILT THE BOILERHOUSE - you'll find this week's instalment by Dr Stephen Long, Principal Architect and Director at Architectus, describing his vision for the space, and priorities for creating a playful, light-filled experience for visitors and locals alike.
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Go get podcasting! And stay tuned for more updates on the progress of the Boilerhouse Discovery Space here and instagram.
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#learningthroughplay #regionalnsw #unediscoveryvoyager #uneboilerhouse

🧠👁 CURIOSITY Built the BOILERHOUSE 👁🧠

🧠👁 CURIOSITY Built the BOILERHOUSE 👁🧠
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We are so excited to announce our new podcast! 'Curiosity Built the Boilerhouse' documents the transformation of an old industrial boilerhouse building into a science themed play and discovery space on the @uninewengland campus.
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Dr James O'Hanlon (@jamohanlon) interviews experts in early childhood education and play, directors and designers of discovery centres, researchers, and practitioners of STEAM experiences.
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The first episode, with Dr Sue Elliott, early childhood researcher, nature and risky play advocate and Senior Lecturer at the University of New England.
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To listen and follow our journey search 'Curiosity Built The Boilerhouse' on your favourite podcast app. We can't wait to share this with you!
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#steamlearning #learningthroughplay @unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #uneboilerhouse #curiosity #creativity #collaboration #confidence #candoattitude #regionalNSW @adammarshall @regionalNSW

🌱 Wildflower or Weed? Have you noticed the ab

🌱 Wildflower or Weed?

Have you noticed the abundance of wildflowers and weeds on the roadside and in the paddocks around your neighbourhood this summer? It seems like the sun/rain ratio has been the perfect recipe for growth.

I’d love some help positively identifying the flower pictured here. I’m fairly sure it is Queen Anne’s Lace - 𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢 but the more I research the less sure I become! One thing is clear – its structure is amazing! Look closely and you’ll notice that each flower is made up of many flowers (I counted 38 in one specimen!) and each of these flowers is made up of more tiny flowers.

The scientific name for Queen Anne’s Lace, 𝘋𝘢𝘶𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘢, means Wild Carrot - the plant was actually imported to the colony of Sydney between 1786 and 1798 for food production.

We’d love to hear your Queen Anne’s Lace stories – is it your paddocks’ curse or the flower you admire on your daily walk?

#unelife #australianwildflowers #noticenature #unediscoveryvoyager

On Friday we welcomed eight inspiring National You

On Friday we welcomed eight inspiring National Youth Science Forum students on campus for the UNE program.

The National Youth Science Forum has delivered STEM experiences for 38 years in Australia. COVID has seen a full reinvention of the program, and with the help of Rotary, students have had the opportunity to explore regional education hubs. The students from the New England area, Wauchope, Port Macquarie, Grafton and Canowindra experienced what a career in STEM might look like for them, hearing from zoologists, precision agriculture specialists, exercise scientists, animal scientists, and agronomists.

This was the first time UNE has held a National Youth Science Forum event and the student commented on how grateful they were to experience science first hand, which has predominately been from behind a computer screen this last year.

The students are eager to make a difference to the world around them, and we look forward to seeing how their STEM journey evolves both here at UNE and further afield.

A big thank you once again goes out to UNE’s academics and technical officers for taking the time to share their interests with the students, and also to Staffie Tom (NYSF Leader) and Ken and Ron from Walcha Rotary.

Day 3 and thank you all! 🧠 . The Science Experi

Day 3 and thank you all! 🧠
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The Science Experience students ventured into the neuroscience realm for their last day of camp! Inside a human skull is the most complex structure we know of, and it was a treat to learn more about the structure & function of this incredible organ.
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Advice and stories from scientists in our annual career panel rounded out the experience before lunch with academics, parents and students.
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Thank you to all for helping facilitate another successful Science Experience at UNE. Until next time, keep STEAMing through 2021!
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#thescienceexperience UNE Life University of New England, AU Adam Marshall

Day 2 of The Science Experience 🦠🩸🚴🏼🥩
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A window into exercise/sports science, meat science and nursing, followed by a stunning evening at Dangar Falls in the New England High Country.
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Science never sleeps. It’s clear from the questions, interest and energy of our students that they will be working to solve problems across many different areas of life.
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#thescienceexperience #universityofnewengland #curiosity #creativity #collaboration #confidence #candoattitude UNE Life University of New England, AU

Launching into 2021 like... We are so grateful to

Launching into 2021 like...

We are so grateful to be able to run the 2021 Science Experience supported by ConocoPhillips and Santos in a COVID safe environment here on campus this week.

Today students solved a series of crimes using forensic techniques before heading out to UNE’s SMART Farm, Kirby, for en exploration of remote sensing processes and insect ecology.

In collaboration with UNE’s amazing academics and technical staff we hope to inspire students to pursue their STEAM curiosities and undertake studies in these fields into the future!

📌 Pinning Cicadas - look at what Dr Jean and he

📌 Pinning Cicadas - look at what Dr Jean and her niece have been doing this holidays!

After finding many dead cicadas on her property, Jean managed to salvage a few and, with her niece, they have carefully pinned and preserved some beautiful specimens for their insect collections!

If you'd like to learn more about how to pin insects, particularly cicadas, check out Dr Jean's blog on our resources page at:
https://www.unediscoveryvoyager.org.au/

🐠 Do you want to do more for our Great Barrier

🐠 Do you want to do more for our Great Barrier Reef but need a way to contribute from home?

Check out this amazing citizen science project and be involved for the chance to win a GoPro!

Virtual Reef Diver is a collaboration between scientists, managers, citizens, data analysts, marine explorers and reef operators working together to record, analyse and predict coral cover on the Great Barrier Reef.

The aim of the project is to tap into the power of citizen science to dramatically increase the amount of monitoring data within the Great Barrier Reef, and then translate these crowd-sourced data into valuable information that managers can use to make better decisions.

You can help classify hard coral found in underwater images submitted by professional monitoring teams, reef operators, and citizens so that this data can be used to predict coral cover across the Great Barrier Reef.

We think that’s a pretty worthy cause for some extra screen time!

To learn more and to be involved, head to: https://www.virtualreef.org.au/

Our mystery animal is the Scandinavian Red-Nosed R

Our mystery animal is the Scandinavian Red-Nosed Reindeer – 𝘙𝘶𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘳𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴! 🎁 🔔 🎁

The red-nosed reindeer is a rare sub breed of reindeer endemic to the North Pole. Unique proteins in their nasal mucous react from rapid temperature change, with freezing inhaled air and warm exhaled air, to create a unique red glow. The glow is often strong enough to guide the reindeer through thick fog or heavy snowfalls.

Some people have harnessed their unusual ability to fly without wings to pull heavy carts or sleighs through the air. The Scandinavian Red-Nosed Reindeer are notoriously tricky to breed in captivity so they are rarely used outside of making special urgent deliveries in late December when they are at their most active.

For more What Am I Wednesday challenges, head to our resources page: http://ow.ly/19nr50CKlYl

#unelife #unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #learningthroughplay #ruralschools

📷 Jon Tyson on Unsplash

❄️ 🎄 ❄️ It's What Animal am I Wednesday

❄️ 🎄 ❄️ It's What Animal am I Wednesday?

I am native to the arctic to sub-arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. I stand about 1.2 meters tall, not including my antlers. I am covered in thick brown or dark grey fur which keeps me nice and warm in the freezing landscape. I like to eat grasses and occasionally root vegetables if someone else pulls them up and leaves them out for me.

I have several unique evolutionary adaptations which some people describe as a bit “magical”. I have a bioluminescent naval cavity which enables me to navigate through thick snow or fog. A by-product of digesting vegetables is hydrogen gas, which is very light and allows me to escape predators by making me almost weightless - I can practically fly through the air! I am most active around the winter equinox, which typically occurs in late December.

Who do you think I am?

For more ways to play at home or school, head to our resources page. http://ow.ly/rUDd50CKlLW

📷 Jon Tyson on Unsplash (cropped)

#unelife #unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #learningthroughplay #ruralschools

WHAT A BUMPER CICADA SEASON WE'VE HAD! The loud c

WHAT A BUMPER CICADA SEASON WE'VE HAD!

The loud calls of the males fill the air with the distinctive sounds of summer. But despite their unmistakable and familiar calling, not a lot is known about the ecological preferences and requirements that cicadas need to survive. This is where you can help! The Great Cicada Blitz is calling citizen scientists to record their cicada sightings to gain a better understanding of species’ emergence patterns and geographical distributions. Your sighting may even lead to the identification of new species!

To contribute to the project, head to the iNaturalist website or download the iNaturalist app. Once there, sign up and get an iNaturalist account (it's free). Then you can search for "The Great Cicada Blitz" and join the project to receive updates and start uploading your sightings. However, it's not a requirement to join the project, and you can still upload your observations, which will be collected by the Great Cicada Blitz. Your cicada sightings can be submitted in the form of photos or even audio files.

And remember, you don't need to know what species you're observing. If you simply label your sighting as "Cicadas", experts can help ID it from photos and/or audio recordings.

Head to the link below to discover more.
http://ow.ly/hdhV50CIxtb

#unediscovery #citizenscience #citsci #citscioz #cicadas

📷 𝘊𝘺𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘢𝘦, CSIRO ScienceImage

#discovery #citizenscience #citsci #citizenscienceaustralia #unelife #steam #stem #helpscientists

Yay! We made it to December! Congratulations to al

Yay! We made it to December! Congratulations to all students, educators, parents and pets. You deserve a hug and a break after this year of new normals and zoom meetings!
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From the UNE Discovery crew to you - we wish you a safe and joyful holiday season, with chances to satiate your curiosity every day.
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Our team will be back in schools from Term 1, 2021, but stay on socials to STEAM through the holidays!
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#unediscovery #unediscoveryvoyager #learningthroughplay #ruralschools #regionalnsw #uneboilerhouse

Today’s mystery builder is the Noisy Friarbird,

Today’s mystery builder is the Noisy Friarbird, known scientifically as 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴, and our mystery object is a nest!

Females build large, deep, cup-shaped nests in which to lay their eggs. This nest has been flattened a little in storage, but you can still see the different bits and pieces that a female has used in the nest. She alone incubates the eggs, but both parents feed the young for up to three weeks, after fledging (leaving the nest). Noisy friarbirds are large birds (30-35cm) and are often found in noisy flocks with other honeyeaters. If you search for some images of the noisy friarbird and check out its amazing hair-do (or lack thereof) - you’ll no doubt be able to guess where the common name of noisy friarbird came from!

For more information check out:
http://ow.ly/h1fB50CE8zx

For more What Am I Wednesday challenges, head to our resources page: http://ow.ly/9aty50CE8zv

It's "What Animal am I?" Wednesday! 🐦 🐤 🐣

It's "What Animal am I?" Wednesday! 🐦 🐤 🐣 🐥

This structure was made by a very noisy animal whose calls have been said to sound like 'tobacco', 'four o'clock' or a sharp 'owk owk'. It is the female who builds this structure from bark and grass, binding it with spider webs. Can you see other things that have been built into this one?

The animal that made this object has a distinctive bald black head. It is silver-coloured around the throat and upper breast, with a plain, dull brown back, rump and tail, and a pale grey underbody. The eyes are ruby red. This animal lives in open forests, woodlands and urban environments in Eastern Australia. Can you guess what this object is, and who made it?

For more ways to play at home or school, head to our resources page. http://ow.ly/30Ud50CE8wf

Our mystery animal is the tuatara. The scientific

Our mystery animal is the tuatara. The scientific name of this animal is 𝘚𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴.

The males in my family have spiny crests running along our necks and down our backs. We can fan these out, which is very handy for attracting females or fighting with other males.

Believe it or not, strangely for a reptile, we like cool weather! Over 25 degrees celsius does not agree with us at all but we can live below 5 degrees, by sheltering in burrows.

We are pretty slow growers, not reaching full size until around 35 years old. Our average life span is 60 years but some of us live up to 100!

For more information about the tuatara go to: http://ow.ly/tQVc50CxJqT

For more What Am I Wednesday challenges, head to our resources page: http://ow.ly/3h9k50CxJqR

It's "What Animal am I?" Wednesday! 🐍🐢🐉🐸🐊🐲

You can only find me in New Zealand where I’m proud to be that country's largest reptile, measuring up to half a metre long and weighing up to 1.5 kilograms.

I am the only surviving species in my family, which dates back 200 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed the earth. That means I’m very rare and precious so scientists work hard to ensure there is a plan to look after me and ensure my survival.

We come in a range of colours, from olive green to brown, to orange-red. My last clue - we shed our skin once a year.

What animal do you think I am?

For more ways to play at home or school, head to our resources page. http://ow.ly/nvO450CxIUk

Specimen of the Month

Cane Toad 𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢

The cane toad (𝘙𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘢) is a large species of toad originally from South America, but now found throughout the Pacific, the Caribbean and tropical areas of north-eastern New South Wales, Queensland and across northern Australia. Cane toads famously have poison glands that exude a powerful toxin known as bufotoxin that can cause death in a wide range of animals, including humans. Cane toads were intentionally introduced to control cane beetles in sugar cane districts, a strategy that failed miserably, and led to its widespread invasion. The animal continues to increase its Australian range to this day.

Some Australian animals have learnt to eat cane toads safely by avoiding the poison glands; water rats and crows flip them over and eat the intestines, while tawny frogmouths apparently eat them whole without ill effect.

Recent research has shown that toads are rapidly evolving at the invasion front to have larger heads, bigger bodies, but also longer legs to make them faster. They are also adept at invading new areas by hitching a ride in air and road freight, or simply inside passenger vehicles. In the last few years, the occasional toad has even shown up on the New England Tableland in Armidale; but whether this tropical animal could survive an Armidale winter is perhaps asking too much even of this very adaptable invader. Nevertheless, be on the lookout and report any toads you see in the area!

The UNE Natural History Museum has several specimens of toads; our specimen of the month shows a few of these to demonstrate the size range of adult animals.

If you're in Armidale, check out all of our specimens of the month on display in UNE's Dixson Library. For other Natural History Museum explorations, head to our resources page http://ow.ly/S1Ot50Cw3Ku

#specimenofthemonth #naturalhistory #naturalhistorymuseum #canetoad