The program provides berths for primary and secondary teachers to sail on board our state-of-the-art marine research vessel, RV Investigator, for short voyages.
On board, teachers assist scientists with marine research; enhance their STEM content knowledge; run outreach activities, including live video broadcasts; and develop curriculum linked resources to be trialled in their own classroom and shared with other teachers.
Read about how our educators inspired students during a voyage from Cairns to Brisbane: IN2019_V04: Hotspot dynamics in the Coral Sea.
Keep up to date with the experiences of our educators on board the RV Investigator
Educator on Board program
Prior to departure
The successful teacher will be required to:
- Complete all Marine National Facility (MNF) pre-departure requirements, including a medical assessment (~3 hours) and have their employer sign the MNF's indemnity and release documentation mandatory for all ship users.
- Complete media and WebEx and any other technical training (~3 hours).
- Actively participate in any pre-voyage planning and meetings (remotely if interstate). This includes any meetings required by the MNF as well as meeting with main (land-based) CSIRO Education and Outreach contact and MNF liaison to discuss voyage aims, practicalities and work plan (~2 hours).
- Meet with MNF liaison in port prior to departure to receive ship induction and be introduced to the master, voyage manager and chief scientist (~2 hours).
On-board requirements
- Work rostered on-board hours (within the limitations of any operational requirements).
- Engage with scientists and technicians, assisting the science wherever possible – in consultation with the Principal Investigators and MNF on-board liaison.
- Make contact regularly (3~ times per week) with main CSIRO Education contact to discuss progress/ideas/problems.
Voyage deliverables
- Develop curriculum-linked lesson plans and resources based on the research and/or ship operations.
- Undertake video link-ups/interactive classrooms to schools and/or CSIRO events.
- Produce a daily blog/diary (incl. daily image) for the Educator on Board webpage. This may be featured on the Investigator blog.
- Contribute content for use on CSIRO social media channels and participate in any media activities arising from the Educator on Board program.
- Participate in post-voyage evaluation and, if required, produce a short trip report detailing activities and achievements.
- Participate, subject to availability, in supporting public ship tours in arrival port.
- Record and upload sightings to the Atlas of Living Australia.
Post voyage deliverables
- Implement lesson plans into teachers' classrooms and provide feedback to CSIRO about how the students engaged with these activities and then make these resources available to other teachers through the MNF and CSIRO Education and Outreach webpages.
- When requested, develop and present teacher professional learning sessions to promote and share their experience on board RV Investigator locally and at least one state or national science teacher conference.
Insurance
Teachers are responsible for organising their own insurance either through their school or department.
CSIRO is committed to Diversity and Inclusion in the work place and to increasing the employment of Indigenous peoples in our organisation. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to consider applying for these positions.