Come and discover the amazing aquatic creatures that live in our rivers.
OzGREEN is hosting a fun and interactive National Science Week event at the Bellingen Growers Market, where people will learn about the important role waterbugs play in helping scientists and the community understand the health of the Bellinger River.
“We invite people of all ages to the stall to embark on a captivating adventure into the realm of macroinvertebrates”, says Bellingen Riverwatch Co-Coordinator, Sam Daykin.
“We’re aiming to foster curiosity across all ages and make science accessible to everyone…and fun! People who come to our event will be able to take part in waterbug challenges with prizes to be won” Sam added.
The National Science Week event is part of a bigger citizen science program called Bellingen Riverwatch, which sees over 60 volunteers come together to gather water quality and macroinvertebrate data, educate the community and help restore riverbanks to support the protection of our rivers and ecosystems for future generations..
“The rivers of the Bellinger and Kalang catchments are very unique and some of the healthiest rivers in Australia”, says Amy Denshire, Bellingen Riverwatch Program Manager, OzGREEN, who will be co-facilitating the event.
“All residents and tourists need to work together to protect what we have. Events like these help raise awareness about the river’s health, the role that waterbugs play in the ecosystem and the threatened species that rely on these rivers.”
Bellingen Riverwatch began following a severe mortality event of the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle in 2015. This turtle is now listed as Critically Endangered and scientists estimate there are less than 200 BRST left in the river.
Everyone is invited to visit OzGREEN’s National Science Week stall at Bellingen Showground between 8am and 11am on Saturday 12th August. If you’d like an event reminder emailed to you, please register at http://www.ozgreen.org/waterbug-open-day and for questions please email Sam at sam@ozgreen.org.au.
This initiative is supported by Inspiring Australia as part of National Science Week.
National Science Week welcomes waterbugs to Growers Market
