Sediment, Seashores and CREST

Students from Otago Girls' High School, St Brigid's School, Broad Bay School, Macandrew Bay School and Musselburgh School have been awarded CREST Awards to recognise their work investigating the health of Otago Harbour.

In 2016 the New Zealand Marine Studies Centre and the University of Otago Department of Marine Science launched a "Sediment and Seashores" project, investigating the consequences of dredging on Otago Harbour rock shore communities.

The students gathered valuable information as part of the Marine Metre Squared project where they investigated sites in the rocky intertidal zone, collecting information about the diversity and abundance of seashore species found there as well measuring the amount of sediment (fine particles of soil and sand) that has moved to these sites.

The "Sediments and Seashores" project was supported by the Participatory Science Platform, a collaborative initiative between students, parents, teachers and the local community to investigate innovative and environmentally sustainable energy generation for use in electric vehicles.

Students who have completed a Participatory Science Platform project are eligible to apply for a student Participatory Science Platform and CREST Award. Find out how to apply here.

Find out more about the project

Read Will bigger ships shake up our sea life? to learn more details about the project and the Participatory Science Platform.

Check for project updates at: Sediment and Seashores Project Update.

Read a news story about the project: http://www.otago.ac.nz/news/news/otago456401.html

Watch the video below: