National Marine Science Centre
about us > schools & education
The National Marine Science Centre encourages school students to get interested in marine science and management as a possible future career-path.
NMSC ASISTM Schools Projects
The Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics project is part of the Australian Government's Boosting Innovation, Science, Technology and Mathematics Teaching (BISTMT) Program. The National Marine Science Centre has been involved in consecutive ASISTM projects.
The first project “Developing Marine Science in High Schools of the NSW Mid North Coast” ran through 2006 and aimed to provide National Marine Science Centre (NMSC) expertise to teachers and students in the Coffs Harbour region, facilitate local ecosystem field studies as well as practical laboratory learning experiences. The project incorporated current PhD researchers as direct learning guides and made use of the NMSC’s specialist teaching facilities. The project promoted marine science, demonstrated the importance of marine environments and informed teachers and students about career options within science. Schools involved in the initial project were Bellingen High School, Bishop Druitt College, Coffs Harbour Christian Community School, Coffs Harbour High School, Coffs Harbour Senior College, Orara High School, Toormina High School and Woolgoolga High School.
The second ASISTM schools project the NMSC has been involved with “Discovering Coastal Ecosystems: A Blended Learning Experience for Rural NSW Schools” ran throughout 2007. This project provided previously unavailable learning experiences showcasing a variety of coastal ecosystems to students from rural areas of the NSW Mid North Coast. This project targeted learning in HSIE (K-6), 7-10 Science, Geography and Marine Studies learning areas. In the weeks prior to a 3 day excursion “trail” from rainforest to the sea, students were provided with pre-visit syllabus related materials on a range of ecological studies they undertook. Students and teachers visited the NMSC and, like the previous ASISTM project, worked with practising marine and ecology experts.
This year the NMSC ASISTM schools project “Enhancing Senior High School Science for Tertiary Success” aims to create a sustainable link between secondary level schools and tertiary organisations concerned with training science professionals. Teaching and learning within the NSW Senior Biology, Earth and Environmental Science and Chemistry curricula will be enhanced through activities based at the NMSC, guided by tertiary science students and professionals employed within scientific disciplines. Senior science students will be inspired to pursue tertiary studies in science and technology through working with enthusiastic tertiary science students and professionals employed with scientific disciplines.
These NMSC ASISTM school projects have resulted in a number of high quality student and teacher resources such as student field and lab study handouts, photographic species identification cards and electronic ecosystem introductory presentations being produced.
If you would like more information on either of the NMSC school projects mentioned above please email , or phone (02) 6648 3900.
School Visit Program
Primary and secondary school groups now have the opportunity to explore marine science and the workings of the National Marine Science Centre with the School Visit Program set to begin in 2008.
The School Visit Program enables school students to come in contact with practicing marine researchers and get a feel for the science undertaken by the National Marine Science Centre. The program is fairly flexible allowing schools to choose from a variety of practical field and laboratory based learning experiences. Each of the learning experiences has been specially designed to meet syllabus requirements in both primary and secondary curricula. The Schools Visit Program will help create a spark of interest in your students as to where they can go with science. For more information on the School Visit Program contact , or phone (02) 6648 3900.
Science in the Bush
The National Marine Science Centre will be hosting the Australian Museum’s Science in the Bush in November 2008. Science in the Bush is a celebration of the contributions of science to society. Continuing on from the success of Science in the City at the Australian Museum, Science in the Bush is an outreach program to encourage participation in Science activities in regional areas. Science in the Bush events are aimed at Primary and lower Secondary students from the local area, and provide a great opportunity for local kids to have a hands-on experience with science. For more information on Science in the Bush at the NMSC, contact , or phone (02) 6648 3900.