Join us for an evening of science, stories, and good conversation at Science at the Pub, featuring three short, engaging talks exploring citizen science on the incredible Kangaroo Island!

We’ll dive into the hidden world of microplastics, see the results from 3 years of microplastic data surveys on Kangaroo island —before shifting gears to learn more about two iconic Aussie animals. From the curious lives of echidnas to the intelligence and ecology of dolphins, our speakers will share insights from their research and inspire the audience to get involved with local citizen science!

No lab coats required, this is science made relaxed, social, and accessible. Grab a drink, settle in, and come along for a night of learning, questions, and lively discussion!

Our speakers:

Tayla Shaw - AUSMAP

Tayla is an Environmental Molecular Biologist with an Honours degree in Marine Science, bringing a strong scientific foundation to her role as Program and Communication Manager of AUSMAP. She combines her technical training and environmental field work experience with a passion for science communication, using clear, engaging storytelling to translate complex environmental issues into meaningful action!

Her talk, Microplastics Too Big to Ignore, explores the hidden problem of microplastics and shares findings from the past three years of data collected on Kangaroo Island through the Department for Environment and Water’s Citizen Science Grants program.

Tony Bartram - Kangaroo Island / Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch

Tony Bartram is a teacher of 40+ years who retired from his role as Marine and Environmental Education Coordinator in 2007 to focus on Kangaroo Island / Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch. This award winning volunteer project has seen hundreds of community members, visitors and scientists join volunteers in vitally important dolphin research. He has worked as a consultant to Whale and Dolphin Conservation and together with his wife Phyll is committed to the conservation and protection of dolphins in South Australian waters and the development of a sense of stewardship for our marine environments.

Kangaroo Island / Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch is a community project unobtrusively monitoring dolphins on Kangaroo Island since 2005 and Victor Harbor since 2011. Scientists and dedicated volunteers of all ages collaborate on effective Citizen Science, developing understandings of custodianship of these fascinating creatures and habitats, collecting vital baseline data to globally inform management, creating a sustainable, longitudinal study of extraordinary international significance.

Dr Peggy Rismiller - Pelican Lagoon Research & Wildlife Centre

Adelaide University

Dr. Peggy Rismiller OAM is an Environmental Physiologist. She has been living on Kangaroo Island and working on a daily basis with echidnas and goannas in the wild since 1988. She delivers national and international programs and documentaries as well as comprehensive Echidna Rescue, Rehab and Hand Rearing workshops across Australia.

Dr Peggy's talk titled "Be Puggled" will explore her over 30 years of echidna research on Kangaroo Island, including stories from her most recent Echidna Puggle in care.

This is a free event - thanks to support of the Department of Environment and Water on behalf of the Government of South Australia - however, please register so we know how many we are expecting!

Thank you to the Kangaroo Island Brewery for having us!

AUSMAP is 100% grant funded project - donations to support the ongoing development & delivery of AUSMAP are greatly appreciated. As a registered charity, all donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

About the AUSMAP 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 is a global first, nationwide citizen science that engages and educates the community to collect scientifically reliable data on microplastics from shorelines across the country – from coasts to catchments – to identify litter hotspots and assist in source reduction.

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 from entering our waterways and design effective mitigation strategies.

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

For more information, please contact events@ausmap.org
Look forward to seeing you there!

Contact the host of Talking Science in the Pub! - Kangaroo Island, SA