THE Esperance Primary School (EPS) Energisers are taking their fight against climate change to a national level, having been selected as one of the finalists for the 2008 Australian Museum Eureka Prizes – Australia’s premier science awards.
The students have been nominated in the Environmental Sustainability Education category, which will be judged by a panel made up of the “who’s who” in Australian science, including Francesca Calati, winner of the 2007 Prime Minister’s Prize for Excellence in Science Teaching in secondary schools.
Starting off with a group of 10 year six and seven students who were interested in learning about global warming, EPS teacher Nola Smith facilitated the students in looking at ways to help prevent climate change in the school and the community.
Over a year late the Energisers, as they decided to call themselves, have made quite an impact on the science community with their message that we can all make a difference.
“We originally planned for the project to last for a term,” Mrs Smith said.
“It started off as a simple thing and then grew from there, we never realised it would become this big.”
Starting small, the Energisers produced an energy reduction plan for the primary school, looking at ways to conserve power, such as switching off the lights and recycling.
However the project soon grew and saw the Energisers produce their own DVD on the effects of climate change and how schools can help prevent it.
All 100 copies of the DVD were distributed to primary schools nationally, and more are being produced.
The Energisers went on to create pamphlets, fact sheets and fridge magnets with information on global warming and travelled to other local schools to perform plays and educate students on how to become more environmentally sustainable.
“It’s about keeping it simple, and having a common message repeated in a myriad of ways to suit the target audiences,” Mrs Smith said.
Energiser Marley Redding said one of the highlights of the project was creating the DVD, and said it was important for children to learn about the importance of climate change.
Mrs Smith said the group was ably assisted by Brian Dawson, from the Australian Greenhouse Office, who provided the students with feedback on their work and helped to make sure the facts the Energisers presented were accurate.
The work performed by the Energisers was recognised by Curtin University Science Education Lecturer Dr Christine Howitt, who nominated the group for the Eureka awards.
“Children can pass it on to their parents and get them to change their habits,” Dr Howitt said.
Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Jim Peacock, visited EPS earlier this year and provided a reference for the group, and the students even received a letter from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
In his letter Mr Rudd stated the multimedia presentation by the students was very impressive, and he also said it was great to see young people taking an interest in important matters.
EPS students Clancy Ellet and Jessica Crisp will be travelling to Sydney with Mrs Smith for the award dinner on August 19.
Email a friend
Favourites
Del.icio.us
Facebook
Digg
StumbleUpon
MySpace
Reddit
Newsvine
LinkedIn
Kwoff