A series of two-day Year 13 Mussel Biology workshops were recently held thanks to a collaborative effort between several organisations in Whakatū Nelson: Cawthron Institute, the University of Otago NZ Marine Studies Centre (NZMSC) (NMIT Te Pūkenga, MacLab, Moana New Zealand and SpatNZ.

These annual workshops are offered by Cawthron as part of its community outreach and engagement programme, with the aim of inspiring local students to follow a career in science

This year over 70 students from Nelson College for Girls, Queen Charlotte College, Golden Bay High School, Kaikōura High School, Waimea College and Te Kura Correspondence School participated in the workshops, guided by mentors Glenis Paul (NZMSC), Rick Field and Jasmine Cane.

Held at the Cawthron Aquaculture Park using NMIT’s wet lab facility, the workshop supported students and their teachers to complete a NCEA Level 3 practical investigation assessment.

Using Green Lipped mussels donated by MacLab and spat (juvenile mussels) provided by SpatNZ, students were able to choose from a range of experiments looking at the effects of variables such as temperature, pH, salinity, light, substrate, or sediment on adult mussels and spat physiology and behaviour.

Popular experiment choices explored the preferred habitat of mussels or spat, and the effect of changes in seawater temperature or salinity on the heartrate of mussels and spat.

Students also got to tour Moana New Zealand and had presentations from Cawthron and NMIT scientists. The tours and presentations provided valuable insights into career pathways in science and the aquaculture industry.

Student feedback from the workshops this year again highlighted the value of the experience:

• The programme provided me with a real-world learning experience of material from chemistry and biology and improved my understanding of how to carry out experiments.
• The workshop helped with deciding what to do after Year 13.
• It was really cool to see what goes on at Cawthron Aquaculture Park and get a taste of the aquaculture industry.
• It was very good, I could get help and guidance from mentors.
• We could see the actual application of what we learned in the classroom.

The workshop is open all secondary schools in Te Tauihu. Please contact foundation@cawthron.org.nz if you would like information on participating in future Year 13 Mussel Biology workshops.