Educational Kiosk Installed at ARM Site in Nauru

 
Published: 15 December 2006

Nauruan students crowd around the new ARM educational kiosk to learn more about climate change.

Surround by the Pacific Ocean, the Republic of Nauru is one of three sites that make up the ARM Tropical Western Pacific (TWP) locale. With a livelihood and economy driven largely by a dependence on environmental conditions, inhabitants of the small island of Nauru have a keen understanding of the importance of weather and climate. On November 8, 2006, ARM Education and Outreach staff installed the Climate Change: Science and Traditional Knowledge kiosk developed specifically for the community of Nauru. More than 30 students, along with their teachers, attended the official launch of the kiosk, located at the departure lounge of the Nauru Airport. The primary purpose of the kiosk is to encourage students to take an interest in learning about weather and climate, and to promote awareness of the research ARM is doing on the island.

Beginning in 2003, ARM Education and Outreach staff interviewed elders and community leaders about their observations of climate change on the island. Several scientists from the ARM Program and Australian Bureau of Meteorology were interviewed to provide scientific information about climate, including their research from data obtained at the ARM site at Nauru. All this information was compiled into a touch-screen kiosk and translated into Nauruan, the native language of the people of Nauru.

Elders who attended the opening were presented with certificates of appreciation from the ARM Education and Outreach Coordinator for their contributions to the kiosk, and the TWP Site Manager thanked the Nauruan government for its ongoing support of ARM’s research on the island. In addition, ARM Education and Outreach staff presented Mr. Baron Waqa, Minister of Education in Nauru, with four computers for classroom use. Mr. Waqa attended the official launch in support of the kiosk. “ARM has had a presence in our schools for many years,” Mr. Waqa said, “I hope the working relationship continues.”