Gaschk, K. <https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/view/author/Gaschk, Katherine.html> and Baudains, C. <https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/view/author/Baudains, Catherine.html>ORCID: 0000-0001-8340-864X <http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8340-864X> (2019) A climate for change? Challenges for ..., 2019
While there has recently been clear acknowledgement in the public sphere that the way society dea... more While there has recently been clear acknowledgement in the public sphere that the way society deals with waste must change, there has not been a great deal of change in the way information or education about how to separate household waste is delivered. Current practice remains primarily entrenched in one-way communication strategies. This practice is driven by assumptions made by waste managers that if "the information is available" people will correctly separate waste unless they do not care. This research explored the accuracy of this assumption by examining how participants separate 19 common household waste items, why they make their choices, and what barriers and motivators they believe influence their decisions. Survey data was collected from 299 residents of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council in Perth. Results showed that despite positive attitudes (x? 4/5) there was low level knowledge (x? 3.3/7) and a range of accuracy in separation of household waste items, with 6 items being separated correctly by more than 95% of residents, 8 items correctly separated by less than 53% of residents. The most consistently used information source was the Council Recycling calendar, while uptake of online information sources was poor. The most significant barriers identified by participants were limited knowledge and bin size/collection rates. Main motivators desired by participants were consistent with the barriers identified. Residents indicated a desire to correctly separate their waste and a need for change in the way information is provided. This has important implications for future education and engagement strategies, including the need for residents to more deeply understand waste management processes beyond a static list of "recycling rules", requiring educators to engage in ongoing dialogue about the constantly evolving state of waste management
Recent research in science communication has assumed a shift from the ‘public understanding of sc... more Recent research in science communication has assumed a shift from the ‘public understanding of science’ to ‘public engagement with science’, or from ‘deficit’ to ‘democracy’ (Irwin 2006). Evidence of this shift is found, for example, in the European Union-commissioned report that had amongst its mandates (Felt et al, 2007, p.9): ‘How to further the stated EU commitment to improve the involvement of diverse elements of democratic civil society in European science and governance’. Given that many scientists work in science (more broadly, in science, mathematics, engineering and mathematics, STEM) research centres, it is appropriate to investigate how ‘engagement’ issues are understood in such centres. Neresini and Bucchi (2010) analysed 40 European research centres in terms of their ‘engagement activities’. Their analysis led them to conclude that “it is a culture of public engagement that still seems to be lacking among most research institutions in Europe” (p. 14). Is this the case ...
Like many of Australia’s digging mammals, the southern-brown bandicoot (known locally in the sout... more Like many of Australia’s digging mammals, the southern-brown bandicoot (known locally in the southwest of WA as the quenda) is considered an ecosystem engineer — their digging activities alter their physical surroundings, changing resource availability for other plants and animals. The ‘ecosystem services’ provided by quenda are likely to be crucial to maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Murdoch University prides itself on its fundamental and applied research, as demonstrated by our ... more Murdoch University prides itself on its fundamental and applied research, as demonstrated by our work in biosecurity and invasive animals. Our researchers work across terrestrial and aquatic systems directly with industry and community partners.
This article considers environmental education and the development of environmentally responsible... more This article considers environmental education and the development of environmentally responsible behaviour. Factors which influence environmental behaviour are discussed, and a model representing the interactions between these factors, environmental attitudes/values, skills knowledge and environmentally responsible behaviour is presented.
Forest, woodland and shrubland declines are widespread and in many cases severe in Western Austra... more Forest, woodland and shrubland declines are widespread and in many cases severe in Western Australia and elsewhere in temperate Australia. The causes are often complex, poorly understood and include: declining rainfall, changes in groundwater levels and quality, pathogens and pests, excess nutrients, salinity, changing fire regimes, and weed competition to name a few. This presentation reviews current projects by members of the State Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Woodland and Forest Health and other researchers based at Murdoch University. The Centre, a co-operative venture with the University of Western Australia, the Department of Environment and Conservation and approximately 26 other partners, has four key Research Programs: Climate Change, forest and woodland declines; Decline Ecology; Restoring Biodiversity Values, and Education, Training, Communication and Policy. The aim of the Centre is to bring together multi-disciplinary teams of research scientists to (a) determ...
Light industrial Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) worldwide are an integral part of their loca... more Light industrial Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) worldwide are an integral part of their local social and economic fabric, making essential contributions to national and global economies, but also representing significant risks to wetlands and waterways. These characteristics have made SMEs increasingly obvious targets for engagement in the sustainability process. How these initiatives are targeted has a significant bearing on their likelihood of success, and in their cost effectiveness. From the macro view considering the suitability of governments, representative bodies, companies or individuals to address specific SME environmental issues, to the micro perspectives on the relevance of conservation psychology in influencing the environmentally sustainable behaviours of individuals’ business practices; all have a place in the strategic targeting of initiatives to improve environmental outcomes for wetlands and waterways. This paper examines the use of the System-Individual Blam...
Wild dogs are a huge problem for Australian livestock producers, costing farmers an estimated $50... more Wild dogs are a huge problem for Australian livestock producers, costing farmers an estimated $50 million annually in livestock losses and for their control. Here we describe outcomes of a recent project that has examined aspects of wild dog control in WA.
Continued loss of biodiversity from urban areas is regarded as a critical issue. It is recognised... more Continued loss of biodiversity from urban areas is regarded as a critical issue. It is recognised that community education is required to improve awareness about environmental impacts and to achieve behavioural change to reduce environmental impacts. A program to engage communities in restoration of biodiversity in urban gardens has been implemented by Greening Australia (WA) in a local government area. The concept of ‘Discovery – Understanding – Action’ leads participants through a process of learning, enabling learners to think of their own garden as a ‘stepping stone’ of habitat and encouraging them to accept responsibility for management of this habitat resource while also making connections with each other and the community. This paper presents the results of a smallscale evaluation of this program, including the significant positive changes captured by the pre and post program survey of knowledge, attitude, skills and empowerment. Key outcomes of the interview analysis are als...
Today&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s medical students have grown up in a technological world, with acc... more Today&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s medical students have grown up in a technological world, with access to a wide variety of educational resources for their personal study. Although there is some evidence from the USA that students prefer the internet to textbooks, there is little evidence of UK students&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; preferences, particularly during their primary care attachments. To identify what educational resources medical students are using for their personal study during primary care attachments and why they make these choices. We held two focus groups, one with five, and one with seven fifth-year UK medical students after their primary care attachment. We analysed the transcripts using thematic analysis to identify the educational resources used, and identified themes to describe why the students made these choices. Textbooks remain students&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; resource of choice for personal study. The most popular textbook was The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine and internet sites were Google and GP Notebook. The choice of resource was influenced by convenience, purpose, recommendation, exam focus, reliability and learning styles. Two further overarching themes influencing their choices were the broad nature of general practice and the use of GP tutors as an important learning resource. In contrast to the USA, textbooks remain the most popular resource for these UK students. Students felt that the style of learning within general practice was fundamentally different to other specialities due to the breadth of the subject matter and this influenced the resources used. This research could help inform the development of educational resources tailored to the learners, and provides further evidence for the need to develop a more structured curriculum for students in primary care. Further research could explore the ideal role of GP tutors.
Decentralised wastewater recycling and irrigation systems have been established with industry par... more Decentralised wastewater recycling and irrigation systems have been established with industry partners in Perth urban villages. The project is now monitoring and evaluating these systems for performance and reliability to meet regulatory standards, effects on soil and vegetation, pathogen disinfection, nutrients prevented from infiltration to groundwater or infiltrated and recycled, maintenance issues of the systems and the effective amount of scheme and bore water saved in the long term. Three trial sites were established for the Premier's Water Foundation (PWF) (Bridgewater Lifestyle Village 389 household greywater recycling; Timbers Edge Resort Village 260 houses to common greywater recycling; Banksia Tourist Village 162 park homes to common wastewater treatment) The research team continues to conduct research on other promising sites (Somerville Ecovillage with 104 houses on dry composting toilets and greywater recycling and Tuart Lakes Lifestyle Village with 415 park homes ...
Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 2011
This study investigated student views on the relationship between their environmental attitudes a... more This study investigated student views on the relationship between their environmental attitudes and behaviours and their thoughts about barriers and motivators to environmentally responsible behaviours. The environmental attitudes and behaviours of students participating in a classroom-based environmental education program were measured using two Likert scales that had been tested for internal consistency and validity using the Rasch polytomous measurement model. Focus groups were held for students to comment on the results from the two questionnaires and provide suggestions with regards to the barriers and motivators influencing their behaviour. The findings of the study support previous research about the relationship between attitude and behaviour and the students' comments on the results provided insight that has not been widely reported elsewhere. Conclusions were drawn regarding the most significant barriers to specific environmental behaviours for high school students and...
The WA Chapter of AAEE has been presenting the Catchments, Corridors and Coasts (CCC) program for... more The WA Chapter of AAEE has been presenting the Catchments, Corridors and Coasts (CCC) program for 13 years. Over this time it has evolved to become an important aspect of our work in the Western Australian community. CCC is a three day interactive program that provides a ‘snapshot’ of environmental education in WA. Participants come from community groups, youth organisations, teachers, preservice teachers, private sector, and local and state government. It provides a rich experience, facilitating the developments of networks with and between practitioners, and an awareness of the resources and support across WA to help address core environmental and sustainability issues. Participants learn about environmental issues, what is being done by community groups and various levels of government, what resources are available and how we can all work together for a better environment. The presentation outlines the elements of the program, the impact of the program for participants, the value...
Gaschk, K. <https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/view/author/Gaschk, Katherine.html> and Baudains, C. <https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/view/author/Baudains, Catherine.html>ORCID: 0000-0001-8340-864X <http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8340-864X> (2019) A climate for change? Challenges for ..., 2019
While there has recently been clear acknowledgement in the public sphere that the way society dea... more While there has recently been clear acknowledgement in the public sphere that the way society deals with waste must change, there has not been a great deal of change in the way information or education about how to separate household waste is delivered. Current practice remains primarily entrenched in one-way communication strategies. This practice is driven by assumptions made by waste managers that if "the information is available" people will correctly separate waste unless they do not care. This research explored the accuracy of this assumption by examining how participants separate 19 common household waste items, why they make their choices, and what barriers and motivators they believe influence their decisions. Survey data was collected from 299 residents of the Southern Metropolitan Regional Council in Perth. Results showed that despite positive attitudes (x? 4/5) there was low level knowledge (x? 3.3/7) and a range of accuracy in separation of household waste items, with 6 items being separated correctly by more than 95% of residents, 8 items correctly separated by less than 53% of residents. The most consistently used information source was the Council Recycling calendar, while uptake of online information sources was poor. The most significant barriers identified by participants were limited knowledge and bin size/collection rates. Main motivators desired by participants were consistent with the barriers identified. Residents indicated a desire to correctly separate their waste and a need for change in the way information is provided. This has important implications for future education and engagement strategies, including the need for residents to more deeply understand waste management processes beyond a static list of "recycling rules", requiring educators to engage in ongoing dialogue about the constantly evolving state of waste management
Recent research in science communication has assumed a shift from the ‘public understanding of sc... more Recent research in science communication has assumed a shift from the ‘public understanding of science’ to ‘public engagement with science’, or from ‘deficit’ to ‘democracy’ (Irwin 2006). Evidence of this shift is found, for example, in the European Union-commissioned report that had amongst its mandates (Felt et al, 2007, p.9): ‘How to further the stated EU commitment to improve the involvement of diverse elements of democratic civil society in European science and governance’. Given that many scientists work in science (more broadly, in science, mathematics, engineering and mathematics, STEM) research centres, it is appropriate to investigate how ‘engagement’ issues are understood in such centres. Neresini and Bucchi (2010) analysed 40 European research centres in terms of their ‘engagement activities’. Their analysis led them to conclude that “it is a culture of public engagement that still seems to be lacking among most research institutions in Europe” (p. 14). Is this the case ...
Like many of Australia’s digging mammals, the southern-brown bandicoot (known locally in the sout... more Like many of Australia’s digging mammals, the southern-brown bandicoot (known locally in the southwest of WA as the quenda) is considered an ecosystem engineer — their digging activities alter their physical surroundings, changing resource availability for other plants and animals. The ‘ecosystem services’ provided by quenda are likely to be crucial to maintaining a healthy ecosystem.
Murdoch University prides itself on its fundamental and applied research, as demonstrated by our ... more Murdoch University prides itself on its fundamental and applied research, as demonstrated by our work in biosecurity and invasive animals. Our researchers work across terrestrial and aquatic systems directly with industry and community partners.
This article considers environmental education and the development of environmentally responsible... more This article considers environmental education and the development of environmentally responsible behaviour. Factors which influence environmental behaviour are discussed, and a model representing the interactions between these factors, environmental attitudes/values, skills knowledge and environmentally responsible behaviour is presented.
Forest, woodland and shrubland declines are widespread and in many cases severe in Western Austra... more Forest, woodland and shrubland declines are widespread and in many cases severe in Western Australia and elsewhere in temperate Australia. The causes are often complex, poorly understood and include: declining rainfall, changes in groundwater levels and quality, pathogens and pests, excess nutrients, salinity, changing fire regimes, and weed competition to name a few. This presentation reviews current projects by members of the State Centre of Excellence on Climate Change Woodland and Forest Health and other researchers based at Murdoch University. The Centre, a co-operative venture with the University of Western Australia, the Department of Environment and Conservation and approximately 26 other partners, has four key Research Programs: Climate Change, forest and woodland declines; Decline Ecology; Restoring Biodiversity Values, and Education, Training, Communication and Policy. The aim of the Centre is to bring together multi-disciplinary teams of research scientists to (a) determ...
Light industrial Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) worldwide are an integral part of their loca... more Light industrial Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) worldwide are an integral part of their local social and economic fabric, making essential contributions to national and global economies, but also representing significant risks to wetlands and waterways. These characteristics have made SMEs increasingly obvious targets for engagement in the sustainability process. How these initiatives are targeted has a significant bearing on their likelihood of success, and in their cost effectiveness. From the macro view considering the suitability of governments, representative bodies, companies or individuals to address specific SME environmental issues, to the micro perspectives on the relevance of conservation psychology in influencing the environmentally sustainable behaviours of individuals’ business practices; all have a place in the strategic targeting of initiatives to improve environmental outcomes for wetlands and waterways. This paper examines the use of the System-Individual Blam...
Wild dogs are a huge problem for Australian livestock producers, costing farmers an estimated $50... more Wild dogs are a huge problem for Australian livestock producers, costing farmers an estimated $50 million annually in livestock losses and for their control. Here we describe outcomes of a recent project that has examined aspects of wild dog control in WA.
Continued loss of biodiversity from urban areas is regarded as a critical issue. It is recognised... more Continued loss of biodiversity from urban areas is regarded as a critical issue. It is recognised that community education is required to improve awareness about environmental impacts and to achieve behavioural change to reduce environmental impacts. A program to engage communities in restoration of biodiversity in urban gardens has been implemented by Greening Australia (WA) in a local government area. The concept of ‘Discovery – Understanding – Action’ leads participants through a process of learning, enabling learners to think of their own garden as a ‘stepping stone’ of habitat and encouraging them to accept responsibility for management of this habitat resource while also making connections with each other and the community. This paper presents the results of a smallscale evaluation of this program, including the significant positive changes captured by the pre and post program survey of knowledge, attitude, skills and empowerment. Key outcomes of the interview analysis are als...
Today&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s medical students have grown up in a technological world, with acc... more Today&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s medical students have grown up in a technological world, with access to a wide variety of educational resources for their personal study. Although there is some evidence from the USA that students prefer the internet to textbooks, there is little evidence of UK students&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; preferences, particularly during their primary care attachments. To identify what educational resources medical students are using for their personal study during primary care attachments and why they make these choices. We held two focus groups, one with five, and one with seven fifth-year UK medical students after their primary care attachment. We analysed the transcripts using thematic analysis to identify the educational resources used, and identified themes to describe why the students made these choices. Textbooks remain students&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; resource of choice for personal study. The most popular textbook was The Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine and internet sites were Google and GP Notebook. The choice of resource was influenced by convenience, purpose, recommendation, exam focus, reliability and learning styles. Two further overarching themes influencing their choices were the broad nature of general practice and the use of GP tutors as an important learning resource. In contrast to the USA, textbooks remain the most popular resource for these UK students. Students felt that the style of learning within general practice was fundamentally different to other specialities due to the breadth of the subject matter and this influenced the resources used. This research could help inform the development of educational resources tailored to the learners, and provides further evidence for the need to develop a more structured curriculum for students in primary care. Further research could explore the ideal role of GP tutors.
Decentralised wastewater recycling and irrigation systems have been established with industry par... more Decentralised wastewater recycling and irrigation systems have been established with industry partners in Perth urban villages. The project is now monitoring and evaluating these systems for performance and reliability to meet regulatory standards, effects on soil and vegetation, pathogen disinfection, nutrients prevented from infiltration to groundwater or infiltrated and recycled, maintenance issues of the systems and the effective amount of scheme and bore water saved in the long term. Three trial sites were established for the Premier's Water Foundation (PWF) (Bridgewater Lifestyle Village 389 household greywater recycling; Timbers Edge Resort Village 260 houses to common greywater recycling; Banksia Tourist Village 162 park homes to common wastewater treatment) The research team continues to conduct research on other promising sites (Somerville Ecovillage with 104 houses on dry composting toilets and greywater recycling and Tuart Lakes Lifestyle Village with 415 park homes ...
Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 2011
This study investigated student views on the relationship between their environmental attitudes a... more This study investigated student views on the relationship between their environmental attitudes and behaviours and their thoughts about barriers and motivators to environmentally responsible behaviours. The environmental attitudes and behaviours of students participating in a classroom-based environmental education program were measured using two Likert scales that had been tested for internal consistency and validity using the Rasch polytomous measurement model. Focus groups were held for students to comment on the results from the two questionnaires and provide suggestions with regards to the barriers and motivators influencing their behaviour. The findings of the study support previous research about the relationship between attitude and behaviour and the students' comments on the results provided insight that has not been widely reported elsewhere. Conclusions were drawn regarding the most significant barriers to specific environmental behaviours for high school students and...
The WA Chapter of AAEE has been presenting the Catchments, Corridors and Coasts (CCC) program for... more The WA Chapter of AAEE has been presenting the Catchments, Corridors and Coasts (CCC) program for 13 years. Over this time it has evolved to become an important aspect of our work in the Western Australian community. CCC is a three day interactive program that provides a ‘snapshot’ of environmental education in WA. Participants come from community groups, youth organisations, teachers, preservice teachers, private sector, and local and state government. It provides a rich experience, facilitating the developments of networks with and between practitioners, and an awareness of the resources and support across WA to help address core environmental and sustainability issues. Participants learn about environmental issues, what is being done by community groups and various levels of government, what resources are available and how we can all work together for a better environment. The presentation outlines the elements of the program, the impact of the program for participants, the value...
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