AUSMAP: Science by the Sea - Community Training Day - Wollongong, NSW

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK!

Interested in learning more about microplastics and their impact on us and the environment?

Come and participate in our full-day Practical Training Course which will focus on identifying microplastics and finding effective solutions.

About the Program

It’s hard to solve a problem you can’t see. Until recently microplastic pollution presented scientists with a crisis that was invisible to the naked eye. Now we have AUSMAP - the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project.

AUSMAP, Australia’s leading microplastic program, is a nationwide citizen science program that aims to quantify microplastic pollution with the primary goals of identifying litter hotspots and assisting in source reduction. Since 2018, AUSMAP has established itself as a leading citizen science project and has compiled a nationwide understanding of microplastic pollution that is accessible to all.  The program educates, engages and empowers citizens of all ages to identify microplastic hotspots, finds effective remediation strategies.

AUSMAP is a powerful management tool that forms the basis to develop and implement regional litter prevention strategies for stakeholders to use, and act on.  

We need to know how much is out there before we figure out what to do with it.  And we need large numbers of Australians to engage with behaviour change so we can stop any more plastic entering our waterways and design effective mitigation strategies.

That’s why we need you in our AUSMAP collaborative citizen science project!

About The Training

Learn about AUSMAP and participate in this full-day training session on the field sampling methodology for collecting, sorting and identifying microplastics.

The AUSMAP team will work with participants to develop a holistic understanding of the microplastic problem and how their involvement will help us to address it. The program is designed for people from a variety of sectors, including council staff, waste educators, wetland/coastal team and stormwater managers, teachers, NGOs and local communities - including retirees.  This would create a core group of science-based leaders to facilitate the program with the rest of the community.  This education will involve:

• Addressing what microplastics are and different types of microplastics;
• The current state of affairs and what is being done to manage them;
• Learn a scientifically rigorous methodology that identifies and quantifies microplastics in your LGA, leading to a direct positive impact on the environment;
• Provide the education and knowledge that will lead to developing better waste reduction and remediation strategies in your own community and council region;
• For educators, you will have access to a suite of educational resources, directly matched to the Australian curriculum for Science & Geography;
• Learn from an expert team, in a microplastics program that is nationally recognised and endorsed by government agencies;
  
• Connect your community with each other, highlighting the sustainable efforts of the council;
• A practical accreditation to assess field sampling knowledge.

Following a morning theoretical session, field sampling will take place at a local beach, and will be followed by a practical accreditation in the afternoon - an essential part of the official AUSMAP program - on completion, you will become an accredited AUSMAP Ambassador in this nationally recognised program and the data you contribute will be included in the national microplastic database and be part of the AUSMAP Microplastic Map.

PLEASE RSVP: Wednesday 9th August @ 5PM

Experts: Dr Scott Wilson (AUSMAP Research Director) & Dr Trudy Costa (AUSMAP Research Associate & Wollongong Council Environmental Officer)

Date:   Friday 11th August, 2023

Location:  Koonawarra Bay sailing Club, Kanahooka Point, Dapto

Light morning tea will be provided, purchase lunch or BYO - please, no single-use plastics!

LIMITED PLACES, PLEASE BOOK ASAP!      We regularly sell out in just a few days!

Events may be photographed for social media purposes.

FAQs 

What is the cost of the Training Day?

This event is free thanks to our sponsors Wollongong city council and Shellharbour city council, who are helping cover some costs to run the training event. 

What do I need to bring?

* You will be required to collect water during the field session so please bring waterproof shoes
* Outdoor Wear - be prepared for rain or sun!
* Notebook and pen
* Reusable water bottle and coffee cup

Do you offer refund if my circumstances change?

Please let us know if you can't attend.

What obligation do I have after I complete the AUSMAP Training Program?

After you register, you will be required to complete the AUSMAP Collaborator Agreement questions that will automatically generated when purchasing your ticket. 

As a registered AUSMAP Collaborator, you need to agree to the following:

1) Where possible, undertake AUSMAP sampling 4 times per year in a proposed location;

2) Only follow our AUSMAP methodology - using our field kit and equipment;

3) Send datasheets and microplastic samples to AUSMAP for further analysis; and

4) Promote the AUSMAP program with your local community.

For more information, please contact events@ausmap.org