Cadets Involved in MicroBlitz Launch
Seven of our Cadets, from Years 9 and 10, travelled to Albany in mid-March for a very quick trip to help celebrate the launch of MicroBlitz, a Citizen Science soil sampling project run by the University of Western Australia.
Our Cadets assisted by running one of the sessions for participants, talking with the media, as well as producing the film which was used at the launch.
Each of the Cadets did a magnificent job in representing the school and the Bush Ranger Cadet Program, and were highly praised by the organisers, as well as other dignitaries in attendance.
Highlights included:
- Ivan realising half way through his presentation that he was teaching soil sampling to the state's premier soil sampling scientist.
- Opportunity to meet with the outgoing Chief Scientist of Western Australia, Professor Lyn Beazley.
- The invention of 'Astronaut Orange Juice' ... to be used on future camps.
- A look at the Albany Whaling station
Our great thanks to Bianca Sciberras (Middle School Science) and Colin Hawke (retired Science Teacher) for helping run the trip.
Great congratulations to the Cadets for the work that they did. The feedback blow is testament to their good work.
Andrew Paul (School Chaplain & Bush Ranger Cadet Unit Leader)
Our Feedback from the trip
"I have been singularly impressed with the Bush Rangers and Andrew, they are a huge credit to the school. They came on board very early on and I think it is safe to say we have delivered MicroBlitz as a partnership between us and the Bush Rangers. I cannot understate their inputs into the project as we now go live with it. It is an excellent example of a true Citizen Science project, where not only citizens participate, but groups like the Bush Rangers have actively helped to develop it as well." (Winthrop Professor Andrew Whiteley)
"It was wonderful to meet the students, experience their lively minds and share their very real commitment to making the planet a good place for many generations to come." (Professor Lyn Beazley, former Chief Scientist of Western Australia)
"On behalf of the MicroBlitz team and the Faculty of Science at UWA I would like to pass on our gratitude for the involvement the Mount Lawley Bush Ranger Cadets in our launch event, which was held in Albany last Friday (14th March) ... The Mount Lawley Bush Rangers have embraced our citizen science project and have led the way by example for the involvement of other Bush Ranger Cadet units throughout the state. Over the past year they have contributed in many significant ways to the development of the MicroBlitz project, including helping us refine our sampling protocols, participated in market surveying for the development of our branding and collected the very first run of samples on their adventure up to Millstream last year. Their contribution to our launch last week was nothing short of outstanding and their participation was instrumental to the success of our day. The cadets under the direction of Andrew Paul (and volunteer staff Bianca Sciberras and ex- staff Colin Hawke) did an excellent job in instructing our 50 + workshop participants on how to collect a soil sample and the film they made about our project was one of the highlights of the formal proceedings. Each and every student was a credit to the school and we count ourselves very fortunate to have the support of such a group of motivated staff and inspiring youth from your school. The Bush Ranger team contribution was acknowledged by our key speakers (Professors Lyn Beazley, Tony O'Donnell and Andy Whiteley) at the launch, and each and every guest I spoke to at the launch spoke positively about your students. However, MicroBlitz team leader W/Professor Andy Whiteley, would also like the opportunity to formally acknowledge their contribution at one of your school assemblies with the presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation." (Deborah Bowie, Project Manager, MicroBlitz)
