Jellyfish, Jenga and Journeys
Kirsty looks at what what sciences says about climate and highlands nature?
Rangers can be solitary beasts, busily working away in our individual and far flung patches, but each year in March the North Highland team get the chance to work collaboratively on a bigger event. The Caithness International Science Festival invites us to present school workshops and also provide an interactive display at their community fun day. This year we chose the topic ‘Nature in a changing climate’ to help children learn about how our Highland wildlife is being affected by climate change.
The Science Festival in Caithness is a bit of an institution. Running for over two decades, it is a well oiled and rather impressive machine. Presenters come from all over Scotland and beyond to deliver science education at its best. This year 2,231 young people were engaged in science across 199 workshops, and a further 2011 members of the community visited the fun day.
That’s every child in Caithness, receiving hands on current science learning, completely free of charge!
This year, the ranger team were hosted by Halkirk Primary and we welcomed their older classes along with those of their cluster school Reay to our workshops. 73 children attended and enjoyed an introductory presentation by Paul on climate change in the global setting before splitting into 4 groups to take part in 4 themed workshops in turn.
The children learned about Orcas with Marcia, how their populations are changing in Highland and international waters, and the challenges that they face. They looked at how when a top predator changes its feeding habits, an entire eco system could change. They then focussed on anatomy by creating their own orca models from clay.
Next door Patti’s workshop was all about the ‘winners and losers’ of climate change, focussing on which species are increasing and decreasing. They then thought about how nature is in the balance through playing a game of giant jenga. A great mix of science and fun.
Down in the school gym Donald’s workshop had the children learning about butterflies and how they depend on the specific food plants that can be affected by the changing seasons. They paid close attention to the detail of our butterflies, as they drew some of our common, and becoming more common species.
Lastly the children learned with Kirsty about how Jellyfish are blooming in our waters and are a great indicator species for our increasingly warmer and more acidic waters. They watched shells dissolve in acid, plotted leatherback turtle migration routes and took part in a jelly flap race to feel what it is like being a jellyfish dependent on the changing ocean currents.
The children were thriving on the varied and hands on science workshops, they were engaged and enjoying themselves. Judging from the questions and comments at the end it had been fun and fast paced, but it had also been thought provoking and given them cause to reflect.
I’m never sure who enjoys these days more, the children, the teachers or the rangers. It is great to get the team together and the Caithness Science Festival gives us the rare opportunity to do so.
Kirsty Rosie is the High Life Highland Countryside Ranger for East Caithness and North East Sutherland, a region celebrated for its natural splendor and diverse wildlife. Raised in Keiss, her early experiences inspired her lifelong passion for the conservation in this area. Today, as a ranger, she is a well of knowledge and enjoys teaching visitors and communities alike about the treasures to be found on Caithness’s dramatic cliffs, and within it’ historic landscapes.
Last years festival write up:
