School Kids to Pick Australia's Favourite New Species
Mike Kelly,Peter Garrett
posted Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Voting is about to kick off in schools around the country, as part of a national competition to pick Australia’s favourite new species ahead of National Science Week.
Environment Protection Minister Peter Garrett visited the Queanbeyan Public School today with Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly to launch the Bush Blitz Top 10 New Species competition.
“Our scientists are turning up all sorts of amazing new species, from a barnacle that looks like the Sydney Opera House to a pink fish that walks on the sea floor,” Mr Garrett said.
“In an environmental research program funded by the Federal Labor Government, scientists have nominated their ‘Top 10’ new critters, and now we need Aussie kids to pick their favourite.
“We want to get school students across the country excited by biodiversity so, in time, they may take the path of becoming the next generation of nature discovery scientists. This competition is a great way to do it.”
Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, said Queanbeyan Public School, with its mission statement of developing cleaner and more sustainable ways of doing everyday activities to make the planet a more pleasant place to live, work and play, was a great place to launch the competition.
“Here in Eden-Monaro we have a really diverse environment, from the coast to the Alps, and right across the electorate we’ve got volunteers, including farmers and community groups dedicated to protecting and conserving our special part of the country.
“The work that the school does here to encourage kids to learn about the environment and understand how important it is that we look after it is really important and will help students develop a life long commitment to treading lightly on the planet.
“This great competition also highlights that even today we’re still discovering new things about our environment and new species never previously known to science.”
Students will be able to vote for their favourite new species from Monday 9 August in the lead up to National Science Week. To vote and find out more about how scientists discovered and named the species visit the Bush Blitz website at www.bushblitz.org.au.
Mr Garrett said there are some great prizes up for grabs in the voting competition.
“High school students can win the chance to roll up their sleeves in a real ‘Bush Blitz’ with scientists, getting out into the bush to try and find their very own new species,” Mr Garrett said.
“For primary schools, there’s the chance to get an inside peak into nature discovery, with a visit to their nearest state or territory museum for the entire class.
“The number one species and lucky prize winners will be announced in September this year to mark Biodiversity Month – I can’t wait to see what Australia decides!”
The competition is organised through Bush Blitz - a three-year $10 million partnership to document the plants and animals in hundreds of properties across Australia’s National Reserve System of national parks and reserves.
The Bush Blitz partnership is led by the Australian Government, BHP Billiton, conservation research group Earthwatch and scientists from the Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network. Also involved are the CSIRO, as well as every museum, herbarium and government in the country and dozens of Australia’s top scientists and volunteers.
Tags: Garrett, Kelly, Mike, Peter