A Girl Guide learns to listen to a dog’s heartbeat
Our School of Environmental and Animal Sciences (EAS) recently hosted a group of 28 Girl Guides and Rangers for the day, to introduce them to how science and technology are used in caring for animals and the environment. The workshop was one part of a five-day camp.
Unitec graduate and Girl Guide leader, Jeanette Anderson, approached Head of EAS Dan Blanchon to ask if his team could provide a workshop as part of the Animal ENVentures Girl Guides camp for girls aged 10 – 17 years, that focuses on animals and the environment. Having done similar workshops with secondary school students through UPC’s programme, the EAS team was happy to extend their knowledge to the Girl Guide group.
One of the Girl Guides using the laboratory equipment
EAS staff facilitated different aspects of the workshop according to their areas of expertise. Dan Blanchon, Mel Galbraith, Erin Doyle and Graham Jones taught the girls how to use laboratory equipment to extract DNA from insects and spiders. Caralyn Kemp demonstrated the principles of sensory ecology – the study of how organisms acquire, process and respond to information from their environment; and Rebecca Connor, Kristina Naden and Bianca Kuhlman introduced the scientific principles of caring for animals, including animal first aid, how to handle goats and how to train chickens!
Jeanette said the girls really enjoyed their experience at Unitec, particularly the interactions with the animals.
Handling the animals was a favourite part of the workshop for many of the Girl Guides
“For some this was the handling and for others the clicker training. They loved learning how to care for them and being able to share the experience with their friends and family. It was especially exciting that in some cases they could share photographic evidence of their experience.”
Laura Harvey said it was a rewarding experience for the EAS staff involved. “It was great to be able to share the exciting things we do with the next generation of young female scientists.”