ARM Scientists Visit Darwin Schools During the Tropical Warm Pool – International Cloud Experiment

 
Published: 14 February 2006
ARM scientists and graduate students visited a classroom at Wagaman Primary School in Darwin during the two-month TWP-ICE field campaign.

Many students and teachers in the Darwin community received first-hand information about ARM research and the exciting Tropical Warm Pool-International Cloud Experiment that took place in January and February this year. ARM Education and Outreach arranged for scientists to visit students in their classroom to talk science. Chuck Long, Jim Mather, Courtney Schumacher and several graduate students were among the scientists who volunteered their time to talk to students. The class visits were scheduled to coincide with the last week of TWP-ICE and the kiosk installation.

Students at Wagaman Primary School were filled with curiosity when Jim Mather brought out a weather balloon as part of his presentation. Jim was impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and interest; hands kept going up all over the classroom throughout his presentation. When given copies of the ARM activity books, the students immediately got to work solving puzzles and crosswords.

Graduate student Lis Cohen teaches a classroom at Wagaman Primary School.

Darwin High School was only two weeks into the school year, but students piled into the small auditorium for presentations by Courtney Schumacher and Chuck Long. Over a period of three days, more than 300 students learned about cloud and weather radar, radiosondes, cloud formation, and much more. Teachers were given packets of ARM EO materials and resources.

The final stop was Woolaning School in Litchfield Park. The one-room, one teacher school is home and learning place to several Aboriginal students; teacher Guna Deva was recognized as Teacher of the Year for success at teaching students about weather and climate last year. Several elders were present; one woman prepared a painting and story about the traditional way the Aborigines identify seasons.