Matthew Brooker applied for a scholarship through Earthwatch Australia and the George Alexander Fellowship to go to Calperum Station for a week long research expedition last holidays after enjoying his work experience at Kangaroo Rescue SA.  Full scholarships were open to all students in Years 10, 11 and 12 with a sense of adventure and burn to contribute to real-world environmental issues.  Throughout the week participants lived and worked in the field alongside Earthwatch scientists, doing hands-on research work like surveying fauna and flora, and monitoring carbon and water. As well as contributing directly to conservation research, participants increased their environmental and scientific acumen, learnT about careers and future pathways, and maDe friends with other action-oriented students.

Matthew applied and was successful.  This is his story with some of his photos.

I have an interest in Environmental Science and Animals, and after the school advertised for applications for the George Alexander Fellowship Scholarship, with Earthwatch Australia, where you go on a week long expedition with scientists, I applied.

There were 1300 students who applied, and I was one of 13 students accepted for an expedition to Calperum Station up in Renmark.  The expedition was to research the Ecosystems of the Murray River & Mallee, learning about the vegetation and animals and how to maintain the ecosystem between them.  We left on 2 October and returned on 8 October.

We worked with scientists Dr Peter Cale, Caitlyn Polack and Dr Heather Neilly.  We stayed at the station overnight, but during the day, we worked out in the field where we tracked lizards, frogs, echidnas, possums, and the Murray Mallee Fowl, which is a rare bird, and we found a recent nest of this bird.  The Murray Mallee Fowl is listed as a Vulnerable Species on the endangered list.

We also tracked the vegetation in the area, to see how quickly it is growing. We caught animals in the traps that were set up, marked the animal, and then released it. What I found most enjoyable was tracking and locating animals.

Matt BROOKER, Year 10