Projects

Building on New Zealand’s strong connection to and passion for Antarctic exploration and conservation to inspire young New Zealanders, engage their families, and demonstrate the influence of Antarctica on climate and sea-levels.

The Aquavan will travel from sea to source, engaging new audiences and building community skill in environmental monitoring and knowledge mapping, expanding the 2018 project, ‘Aquavan... Discovering our Coastal Connections’.

Travelling along southern NZ waterways, the Aquavan will immerse young minds in marine science, awaken curiosity with encounters with marine critters and investigate how actions upstream affect the coastal environment.

Schools, local groups and scientists are monitoring sites, collecting data and photographing marine communities in the Otago Harbour area. Over time this will show any changes to the species and habitats after dredging.

Students from semi-rural schools will work with researchers to investigate how land use, water quality and biodiversity conservation can simultaneously contribute to the overall health of a catchment.

This brings together students and geological scientists to study the changing ground environment under South Dunedin, which is facing significant challenges with rising sea levels over time.