Image: Science by the Shore event crowd (left) and panel scientists with project supervisor Bri Le Busque and Nick (right)
The CLLMM Research Centre has been supporting an honours project titled “Assessing the psychological benefits of community-directed science engagement” led by University of South Australia honours student Andrew Persian and his supervisors Bri Le Busque and Elissa Pearson. As part of his project, Andrew has been seeking to understand how local community engage with science and what are the keys to increasing knowledge sharing. This has involved surveying local community before and after a community event to gauge who they connected with the event — this surveying also provided an added opportunity to submit science questions related to the Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth (CLLMM) region.
The ‘Science by the Shore’ community event on the 25th of July when more than 50 members of the public who were able to ask questions of a panel of scientists. The panel included CSIRO fish scientist Dr Brenton Zampatti; University of Adelaide climate scientist Dr Georgina Falster; University of Adelaide restoration ecologist Dr Sophie Russell; Nature Glenelg Trust conservation ecologist Dr Sylvia Zukowski; and University of Adelaide marine scientist Dr Nina Wootton.
It was a fantastic night filled with meaningful conversations that stretched long into the evening. While many of the questions focused on the cause and effect of harmful algal blooms, the community also explored topics such as water management, species diversity in the Coorong, and the future management or elimination of common carp. Adding warmth to a very cold winter night, attendees enjoyed hot homemade soup and crusty bread — a definite highlight!
For those who attended the event, Andrew is seeking your input into the post-event survey. Science by the Shore: Survey 2
Andrew will be analysing the survey data shortly and will be providing recommendations on how to improve engagement with community in his honours thesis due for completion later in the year.