Monitoring the moana – participatory science methods

14 August 2025 - 14 August 2025

Region(s): Nationwide

Type(s): professional Development

Join Sally Carson from the Otago University Department of Marine Science and Greta Dromgool for a session packed with ideas, resources and handy tips for monitoring our waterways and oceans.

Participatory science methods

See more

Whether you live close to the coast or not, our waterways are connected so we all have a role in looking after our coastal environment. Participatory science methods allow everyone to contribute to the knowledge about, and action for our environment.

Rights: Yachting NZ

Aotearoa New Zealand is a maritime nation – but most of us have no understanding of the world below the waves! The NZ Marine Studies Centre (University of Otago) and has been working for years to develop science engagement programmes to develop students’ science citizenship skills, address questions of environmental concern and support delivery of the science curriculum through local contexts.

Whether your school is close to the coast or not, our waterways are connected so we all have a role in looking after our coastal environment. During this workshop you will learn about methods to:

1. observe and record environmental indicators using your senses and scientific tools

2. record diversity and abundance of coastal species using a range of sampling methods.

These activities will hone students' observation skills, provide opportunities to collect data about their local environment, and use this knowledge to care for our moana.

This session will be valuable for both primary and secondary school teachers.

We will be using Teams and will send the link to all those who register just prior to the webinar.

Joining the webinar

Follow these simple steps to join our webinar:

1. Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android by clicking on the Teams link that we will send to all those who register just prior to the webinar, then follow the instructions.

2. Find the chat box located in the toolbar.

3. Using the chat box, introduce yourself, where you teach and, if you are in a group, how many people are there.

4. Set up your screen for optimal viewing. If you are using a mobile device, you may wish to view in landscape. You can select full screen under View>More options.

Then you can:

• watch, listen and respond via chat to the presentation and discussion

• ask questions using the chat box at any time

The Science Learning Hub team will be there to support you and answer questions.

If you have any questions, please email us.