Dunesday Sessions
Dunesday sessions are a series of (free) 2-3 hour fun sessions designed to assist people to appreciate and enjoy their local environment and how it is (being) formed by climate.
These interdisciplinary science-based field-course style sessions do not require previous or specialized knowledge. They are designed to assist people and communities to appreciate aspects of a local environment within the context of adaption to climate change.
Dunesdays were developed through a series of conversations with Teachers, Local government officers and members of the Committee of Heads of Environmental Sciences in the UK.
These conversations were focused on: how people understand quantitative concepts as non-specialists, How communities could be involved in adaptation conversations, when the foundations of the topic are very technical and likely to include considerable uncertainty, and, The method and practices of field courses in the environmental and social sciences.
From there, the concept of field-course style events for local communities was developed.
UPCOMING DUNESDAYS
Health and Safety
Health and Safety implications are minimal and will be specified for each event and be subject to conditions, season etc.
Full instructions with registration acknowledgement. Typically for daytime events you will need walking sandals/boots, light cotton trousers, multiple cotton layers, a warm layer, a waterproof, sun-hat and sunscreen. Also suggest bringing water or a drink with you.
Some events include food, (koha welcome). For evening events warmer clothes, and additionally a head-torch.
Note: Children do not need tickets but must be in the care of an attending adult.
PAST DUNESDAYS
The first Dunesday ran in March 2021 on The Southshore Reserve. The concept continues to be tweaked and we have since run Dunesdays at Sumner, Travis Wetland, and have not yet run one on the Heathcote River.
All have a common focus of how a local environment is (being) formed by climate. These events are all led by specialist inter- and trans- disciplinary teams, and allow attendees to take samples and make measurements which help to support their learning.