2017 Projects (Round 5)
What are we swimming in? Citizen science in Wanaka
Understanding what affects water quality in Roy’s Bay, Lake Wanaka
Developing a water quality monitoring plan for the lake
Students from Wanaka Primary School and Mount Aspiring College teamed up with Wanaka Lake Swimmers Club, the Ruby Swim and Touchstone to investigate threats to the swimming experience in Lake Wanaka, such as invasive jelly-like algae called ‘lake snow’. Researchers from University of Otago, Otago Regional Council and Aspiring Environmental were also on board.
Following a workshop with specialists, the project team designed a protocol for swimmers to collect data. They also put together a survey of drains flowing into the bay, examining the quality of both storm and standing water. Local school children monitored these outflows and the lake water quality.
The rigorous study design and objective scientific measures tested the community’s concerns and observations, using accredited scientific laboratories. Their aim was to enhance the understanding of the local community and swimmers about the water quality in Lake Wanaka.
Project findings were presented at several public meetings and communication of findings included publishing several local news items, showing community activity in understanding the effects of the human environment on Lake Wanaka.
For more information on this project and others aimed at protecting Lake Wanaka, visit Touchstone’s website.
Funding: $18,204
Contact: Chris Arbuckle (Aspiring Environmental Ltd.)
Sugar in your diet – kino te pai!
Designing science experiments to measure the effects of sugar on kids’ teeth and general health
Improving oral hygiene and healthy eating knowledge
Do tamariki and their whānau know how much sugar is in fizzy drinks and processed foods? Are they aware of the impact sugar can have on teeth and general health?
These questions and more were explored by the children and families from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ōtepoti together with researchers from the Faculty of Dentistry and Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Otago.
Tamariki worked with experts to create experiments that explored the effects of sugar on their bodies and teeth. They also examined the amount of sugar in their food and drink.
Throughout the project, the students and their families learned about oral hygiene, teeth brushing and healthy eating choices. Their oral health was examined at the beginning and end of the project.
Tamariki and their whānau received regular newsletters and reports, and a community hui was held in November to discuss the findings.
Related resources:
Funding: $13,700
Contact: Carolina Loch (Sir John Walsh Research Institute, University of Otago)
The Valley Urban Ecosanctuary
Creating an urban ecosanctuary for native bird species in the North East Valley
Developing strategies to attract native species and control predators
The long-term aim of this project is to reintroduce native species like the kākā to the North East Valley, Opoho and Pine Hill areas of North Dunedin.
The first step was to find out which native species already inhabit the area. Kids from North East Valley Normal School, Opoho School, Dunedin North Intermediate and Islington Street Early Childhood Centre collected data and uploaded their findings to NatureWatch NZ.
They designed a bird feeder that encourages native species into the valley and came up with a plan to protect these species from predators.
This project was driven by the Valley Project, Orokonui Ecosanctuary and experts from the University of Otago, with plenty of community involvement.
Check out the Valley Project Facebook page for more information.
Funding: $20,000
Contact: Eleanor Linscott (North East Valley resident)
Flip the Fleet: Accelerating electric vehicle uptake in Otago
Creating a communal database about electric vehicle performance
Measuring and comparing electric vehicle performance, benefits and battery function over time
At what rate do electric vehicle (EV) batteries lose their ability to hold a charge, and how far can they travel before this happens? How do car load and ‘Eco’ settings affect energy efficiency and EV range? Where should we position rapid chargers to best enable electric vehicle journeys away from home base?
To help answer these questions, members of the electric vehicle community across Otago worked with experts to design experiments and perfect software to gather and report EV usage data – travel, charging, efficiency, cost and battery life. The project quickly spread beyond Otago so that electric vehicle owners and operators from Northland to Southland uploaded their data each month.
By the end of the first year’s Participatory Science Platform grant, Flip the Fleet amassed a communal database of 2,933 monthly records, each with between 5 and 15 EV performance measures from over 700 EVs.
Participants also filled out regular ‘1-click surveys’, answering questions about the limitations and possibilities of electric vehicle use.
Groups and institutions around Otago got involved in this drive to accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles across the region. These included the Otago Chamber of Commerce and Otago Museum.
Visit the Flip the Fleet website to find out more, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Funding: $20,000
Contact: Emeritus Professor Henrik Moller (Ecosystems Consultants)
Biodiversity monitoring on Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua
Measuring how predator control affects biodiversity on Quarantine Island
Investigating the effectiveness of predator traps
Community members and scientists joined forces to monitor moths, skinks, birds and seedlings on Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua, where predator controls have been in place since 2016. They used their findings to analyse biodiversity health on the island.
Groups who are often marginalised from scientific investigation were invited to join in, and subsidies for ferry transfers and accommodation were provided. Interviews captured personal responses to the project, and resources were developed to encourage ongoing community participation.
Join the Quarantine Island Community Facebook page or subscribe to their email newsletter to find out more.
Funding: $13,500
Contact: Kristen Bracey (Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua Community)
Sediment and seashores – Looking deeper
Assessing the structure and health of rocky reef habitats in Otago Harbour
Developing a new method to quantify sedimentation in the harbour
Students from primary schools around Dunedin worked with scientists to monitor important rocky reef habitats along the shores of Otago Harbour.
This followed on from the 2016 project Sediments and seashores – What are the consequences? It saw students and community groups work with scientists to set up monitoring sites, collect data and photograph marine communities in the area.
Their long-term aim is to understand the impact of dredging Otago Harbour to extend the shipping channel entering Port Chalmers to a depth of 14 metres.
In 2017, students helped develop a new technique to quantify the rate of sediment deposition and came up with a process to document community changes in relation to sediment cover and build-up.
To find out more, visit the Marine Metre Squared website, follow them on Twitter or like their Facebook page.
Funding: $19,728
Contact: Sally Carson (Department of Marine Sciences, University of Otago)
Pukekura blue penguins – Matauranga and mathematics
Completing the RFID tagging of little blue penguins at Pukekura (Pilot’s Beach, Otago Peninsula) and installing an antenna to track penguin movements
Replacing burrows with tamper-proof nest boxes
This project is an extension of the 2016 Tracking Pukekura Penguins project, which saw around 50% of the little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) population in the area tagged with RFID chips.
In 2017, the project aimed to tag the remaining penguins at the Pukekura reserve. Burrows were replaced by new nest boxes and an antenna was installed to help track the movement of the penguins over time.
Empirical data was combined with intergenerational observation to create a more complete picture of the little blue penguin colony at Pukekura. This mix of indigenous thinking and scientific analysis will be used to develop the management plan for the penguin population.
Funding: $19,880
Contact: Hoani Langsbury (Pukekura Trust/Otago Peninsula Trust)
Helping Tomahawk Lagoon community look after their own backyard: the upper and lower Tomahawk lagoons
Continuing to survey Tomahawk Lagoon water quality and report back to the community
Developing an area-specific water quality monitoring kit
The Tomahawk Lagoon health team continued to survey the water quality of the upper part of the lagoon and, in 2017, extended their efforts to the lower lagoon. They also worked to develop an area-specific water quality monitoring kit, which may be used by other community groups in the future.
Students and teachers from local schools – Tahuna Normal Intermediate, Bayfield High School, John McGlashan College, Otago Girls’ High School and Columba College – joined forces with community members from ECOTAGO/OCEMES and water quality experts from the University of Otago, the Department of Conservation, Otago Regional Council and Otago Fish and Game.
Towards the end of the year, participants invited the local community to a 1-day symposium at which they presented their findings.
Find out more about this project by visiting their Facebook page.
Funding: $20,000
Contact: Andrew Innes (ECOTAGO)
Naseby dark skies
Investigating the optimal location for a night sky viewing platform
Monitoring light pollution and street lighting
Naseby – with its low level street lighting, generally clear skies and proximity to the Otago Rail Trail – is ideally located to take advantage of the growing popularity of night sky tourism.
This project aimed to find the best location for a public viewing platform, while also monitoring local light pollution and street light locations. Baseline data was used to advise the Central Otago District Council as they worked to minimise light pollution and roll out LED street lighting. This also fed into a community-wide attempt to achieve international dark skies accreditation.
Local school kids and community members got involved in workshops and training sessions given by the Dunedin Astronomical Society, who were a key partner in the project. Naseby Vision held a very successful stargazing event for both locals and holidaymakers.
To follow dark skies efforts in Naseby, check out the community Facebook page.
Funding: $8,750
Contact: John Crawford (Naseby Vision Incorporated)
Wakatipu snow study
Investigating the variability of the Wakatipu snow resource
Examining the implications of this for Queenstown’s community and economy
The Queenstown community will monitor the snow line and seasonal snow cover in the Wakatipu Basin. High school students and community members will photograph and recorded the elevation of the snow line on a daily basis over the winter season. Data will be compared to historical findings and photographs of these mountains.
Snow line readings will be supplemented with regular field trips to measure snow depth and density at selected transects on the mountains. To capture an indicator of snow melt, streamflow from a selected catchment will be measured and compared with river flow data from the Shotover River.
Satellite images and weather observations taken from Queenstown International Airport, MetService and other sources will complement the field data.
Funding: $19,100
Contact: AJ Mason (Innovation Queenstown)