Remote Indigenous school students are learning about the science behind the Earth\u2019s oldest rocks on their lands as part of a two-way program that also teaches scientists about the cultural significance of the rocks.<\/p>\n
Australia\u2019s national science agency, CSIRO, arranged the reciprocal partnership through its STEM Professionals in Schools program. The partnership is supported by Curtin University including Head of the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences Professor Ian Fitzsimons, the WA Department of Education and the Pia Wadjarri Remote Community School, located about 330km north-east of Geraldton.<\/p>\n
This week, students have been in Perth learning about geology, radio astronomy, space exploration, meteorites, the planets and supercomputers, as well as visiting Scitech and Curtin\u2019s Centre for Aboriginal Studies.<\/p>\n
CSIRO\u2019s Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) on Wajarri Country is home to world-class radio telescopes including the Murchison Widefield Array, a precursor to the SKA project – a global initiative to build the world\u2019s largest radio telescopes. The SKA-Low Telescope will be constructed at the MRO over the next decade.<\/p>\n
Lead researcher Dr Luc Doucet, from Curtin University, said the program blended Indigenous cultural knowledge with scientific thinking and the Australian curriculum.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Wajarri people are the custodians of the oldest rocks on Earth that are widely studied by Curtin scientists,\u201d Dr Doucet said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy working together, we are learning valuable knowledge from the traditional owners who have lived on this land for thousands of years while also hoping to ignite a passion for science among the next generation as the future geology, space and science workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n
CSIRO astronomer Dr Laura Driessen said CSIRO have had a positive relationship with the Wajarri people for more than a decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve enjoyed engaging with the Pia Wadjarri students, either visiting them at school or hosting them at the MRO to see the telescopes. Now we have been able to join with Curtin and welcome them to Perth to show them the full picture of how the telescopes on their Country are used by astronomers,\u201d Dr Driessen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe visit was a great opportunity to share our work environment with the students from Pia Wadjarri and give them a peek at the Pawsey supercomputers that process the data the telescopes collect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pia Wadjarri Remote Community School Principal Susan Trigwell said: \u201cPia Wadjarri students, Curtin and CSIRO staff have developed a strong bond over our rocks and environment. Working together on our two-way science program, our students are developing the skills to be scientists of the future, and further unravel the mysteries of the wonderful Wadjarri world in which they live.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pia Wadjarri Remote Community School student Rihanna Schwarze, aged 15, said: \u201cIt\u2019s been a good experience visiting the actual researchers who work with these rocks. I\u2019ve enjoyed learning about geology and how they cut the rocks open\u201d.<\/p>\n
Pia Wadjarri Remote Community School student Ellazay Hedlam, aged eight, said her favourite part was her first visit to a university, adding she enjoyed her tour of the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre. \u201cI\u2019ve learnt that stars blow up,\u201d Ellazay said.<\/p>\n
Dr Doucet\u2019s partnership with Pia Wadjarri is one of many arranged through STEM Professionals in Schools; a program that connects teachers all over Australia with professionals in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) for the purpose of bringing STEM education to life with real-world experiences.<\/p>\n
During the visit to Perth this week, students toured one of the fastest supercomputers in the Southern Hemisphere, Setonix, at the Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre<\/a>, and visited Curtin\u2019s Earth Dynamics Research Group<\/a>, the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy<\/a>, Curtin\u2019s Space Science and Technology Centre<\/a> and the Desert Fireball Network<\/a>, as well as CSIRO\u2019s Kensington facility<\/a>.<\/p>\n This week\u2019s visit was returning the wonderful hospitality of the Pia Wadjarri community, which regularly welcomes Curtin and CSIRO scientists to their community for school visits and two-way science activities on Country.<\/p>\n For more information about the principle of two-way science developed by CSIRO, visit here<\/a>.<\/p>\n