The Australian Seismometers in Schools Project: Building relationships between scientists, schools and local enthusiasts

Abstract

The Australian Seismometers in Schools (SIS) programme is a four-year
project (2011-2014) funded by the Education component of AuScope
Australian Geophysical Observing System (AGOS). Over the next four years
SIS will build a network of 40 seismometers installed in high schools
across the nation to provide real-time monitoring of the Australian
continent and raise awareness of geoscience through observing our
dynamic earth in motion. The Australian Seismometers in Schools project
aims to:

Raise community awareness of regional earthquakes;

Raise awareness of seismology and, more generally geoscience, as a field
of study;

Promote science as a possible career choice;

Provide a tool to teachers to assist in teaching physics and earth
science to high school students. Due to the expanse of Australia and
remoteness of many communities we require local experts and enthusiasts
get involved in the program to provide support and share their knowledge
with schools. Students are required to look after their very own
seismometer and in doing so be a part of a national science experiment.
The project involves e-infrastructure consisting of an online education
portal allowing real time access by students to earthquake recordings in
their own and other schools. The data schools collect will be useful to
researchers and could complement networks run by government and state
agencies due to the high quality of the instruments. Long-term storage
of data for research purposes will be aligned with community standards
at internationally accessible and supported data management centres,
such as IRIS. A growing community of institutional and individual
volunteers is forming to support the program within their local state or
territory. Over the duration of the project this partner network will
significantly enhance the project through provision of technical or
management expertise as well as promotion within the education sector.