Livelihoods inLand™ supported a feasibility study to extend the School DustWatch program to remote desert Australia through the School of the Air program.

DustWatch is a community-based project to monitor the extent and severity of wind erosion across Australia. It combines the observations of a network of volunteer DustWatchers across Australia with other measurements and models. Six remote schools in the Northern Territory participate in the School DustWatch program as “Dust Detectives”. The DustWatch project aims to improve both data on dust transport and wind erosion and local community awareness of these processes.

The DustWatch team contacted nine Schools of the Air, attracting great interest from all, and visited three – in Kalgoorlie, Charleville and Meekatharra. The team developed workshops to explain the concepts and then engage participants in hands-on real-life scientific activities learning about how to use the data collection equipment and record their findings.  The feasibility study was a success, showing that School DustWatch in Schools of the Air could allow remote school children to participate in real life science on a topic directly relevant to their family’s livelihoods. It could increase data on wind erosion in remote regions and also deliver increased knowledge of wind erosion as a serious land degradation issue to remote families. Further investment in taking School DustWatch into Schools of the Air is needed to realise the educational and environmental monitoring opportunities this fantastic concept represents.

Relevant Publications

Strong C, McTainsh G, Leys J and Davies J. 2008. Livelihoods in desert Australia from managing natural and cultural resources: DustWatch possibilities, DKCRC Working Paper 22, Desert Knowledge CRC, Alice Springs.

Leys J, McTainsh G, Strong C, Heidenreich S and Biesaga K. 2008. DustWatch: using community networks to improve wind erosion monitoring in Australia. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 33(12):1912-1926.