Approximately 40 students from the University of Canberra visited The Mulloon Institute recently to expand their studies in Environmental Science.

The students who are undertaking the Earth Systems Science unit, are learning about hydro-geology, soil and plant identification and examining what this all means for species diversity, farm productivity and broader ecology.

The day was split into several programs, including geosphere (soil profiling), hydrosphere (stream and groundwater hydrology), biosphere (vegetation) and atmosphere (climate and weather).

Students visited several sites at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms, including the creek where they sampled water quality and measured streambed depth and shape, above and below a leaky weir.

Crossing leaky weir on Mulloon Creek.

Sampling water quality using probe.

Measuring streambed shape with surveyors staff.

Pinpointing location using GPS.

They also extracted soil samples to identify different soil types and profiles across floodplains and lower and upper slopes, and learnt how to use a biometric tool to characterise vegetation.

Floodplain cores were extracted using existing piezometer boreholes and will be further analysed for the Mulloon Community Landscape Rehydration Project.

Thanks to all the University of Canberra staff and students who helped make this day possible: Dr Duanne White (UC Associate Professor in Earth Systems) and Marcello Blaxell (Honours student) who coordinated the geosphere program; Dr Leah Moore (UC Associate Professor in Geology, MCLRP Science Advisory Committee) who coordinated the hydrosphere section; Will Higgisson (PhD student and accomplished botanist) and Luke (student volunteer) who coordinated the biosphere program; and, Tom Long (Technical Officer) who coordinated the atmosphere section.

Thanks also to The Mulloon's Institute's Research Coordinator Luke Peel who coordinated the whole thing and to volunteer Kate Gardiner who took photos.