2018 National Youth Science Forum

Each year The Mulloon Institute hosts students taking part in the National Youth Science Forum. The annual residential program gives Year 12 students from across Australia a broad understanding of their career options in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Participants are sponsored and chosen by Rotary Australia to attend and hosted at Australian National University.

This year The Mulloon Institute hosted 14 students with an interest in Agriculture and Environmental Science, along with representatives from Rotary.

Luke Peel TMI’s Research Coordinator took the group for a field tour at Mulloon Creek Natural Farms, demonstrating the significant environmental and agricultural productivity results from the Natural Sequence Farming rehydration pilot project.

Students looked at an ephemeral creek and wetland site, creek interventions and leaky weirs, and how scientific hydrological monitoring is being conducted using stream gauges, piezometers, and weather stations. Students learnt how this successful project has now expanded to the catchment scale.

Discussions centred around various aspects of the scientific monitoring program, including geology, biology, landscape functionality, land use and management, and productivity.

The students seemed quite interested in rehydration and regenerative farming practices and had plenty of good questions, including how Luke’s university studies and career choices had led him to his current role with the Institute.

They finished off the day with a field tour of nearby Caroola Farm where owners Penny and Paul explained the operations of their permaculture farming enterprise.