Embedded Files
Planning an investigation
Planning an investigation
Lesson goals
Lesson goals
Ensure students are well prepared for the fieldwork day at Minnamurra River.
Lesson description
Lesson description
Students commence their engagement with the Minnamurra River study site prior to their field trip day to ensure they are well prepared. Planning involves research on the location, environment, accessibility, tides, contingencies, ethical considerations and risk abatement necessary for the field trip.
Estimated time
Estimated time
30 minutes
Supporting materials
Supporting materials
Outcomes
Outcomes
Working Scientifically - Planning Investigations
Working Scientifically - Planning Investigations
Assess risks, consider ethical issues and select appropriate materials and technologies when designing and planning an investigation
Planning a field trip to Minnamurra River
Planning a field trip to Minnamurra River
Use the information below to assist in completing your lesson 4 worksheet.
The study site - Trevethan Reserve
The study site - Trevethan Reserve
The site of Illawarra Environmental Education Centre's Biology Depth Study fieldwork day is located at Trevethan Reserve along the Minnamurra River.
Click the link below to view the location on Google Maps.
Reading tide charts
Reading tide charts
A recommended website to view tide charts for the Minnamurra River is WillyWeather. The nearest location that tide level readings are taken is Port Kembla Beach. There may be small discrepancies in the tide times due to this difference in location.
Click the link below to view local tide charts.
https://tides.willyweather.com.au/nsw/illawarra/port-kembla-beach.html
Port Kembla Beach tide times and heights
Conducting a risk assessment
Conducting a risk assessment
To ensure the safety of all involved in the field trip to Minnamurra River, the NSW Department of Education mandates that a risk assessment be undertaken and that all measures are implemented to minimise harm.
The three main steps to conducting a risk assessment involve the following:
Identify the hazards
Decide who might be harmed and how
Evaluate the risks and decide on control measures
It is important to note the difference between hazards and risks. A hazard is anything that can cause harm, including trips and falls, animal bites, drowning, sunburn, car strike or dehydration.
A risk, on the other hand, is the chance that a hazard will cause harm. As part of your risk assessment, you will identify hazards but then calculate the risk or likelihood of the hazards occurring.
Ethical issues
Ethical issues
Ten considerations for ethical conduct during biological field sampling
Ten considerations for ethical conduct during biological field sampling
(From Richard B. Primack, PhD, Mark J. Costello, PhD, and Abraham J. Miller-Rushing, PhD, December 12, 2016)
Before
Justify any potential adverse impacts of the research in terms of advancing scientific understanding.
Comply with the spirit of institutional and national regulations regarding research and responsible care and use of animals, collecting samples and specimens, and working in protected areas.
Apply the precautionary principle in assessing potential impact of the research on species and their habitats. This includes inadvertent transport of pests, pathogens and introduced species.
During
Avoid killing animals and plants, especially species of conservation concern and species in protected areas.
Minimise disturbance to wildlife and habitats. Ensure that accidentally captured animals will be carefully and immediately released alive.
Minimise stress to animals that are sampled or handled.
After
Remove research equipment and materials from study sites.
Maximise future benefits of research by archiving samples for future research and educational use.
Promptly report information that responsible authorities should know, such as, pollution, and rare and invasive species observations.
Publish findings and data in publicly accessible permanent archives for use in future research, education and management. And whenever possible, inform the local community about the results through popular articles and public talks.
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