Kicking Goals for Science in Schools

The North Queensland Cowboys are in Darwin today, supporting the launch of a new science partnership between the Menzies School of Health Research and St John’s College.

Senior Researcher Mark Mayo said under the new program Indigenous students will work with scientists from Menzies’ Melioidosis Division.

“The students will be involved in a Menzies’ project to gauge the presence of Melioidosis across the Darwin and Palmerston regions. They’ll take part in the collection of  environmental samples from the area surrounding their school, learning data collection skills in a very meaningful way.”

The bacterium that causes Melioidosis lives in the soil. It’s prevalent throughout the Top End of Australia.

Thirty people have presented with Melioidosis this wet season in the Northern Territory alone. On average, up to 40 Territorians are infected with Melioidosis each year, and 50% of those people are Indigenous.

“Indigenous Territorians are clearly over represented in these figures. That’s because chronic diseases like diabetes, found in alarmingly high rates in remote communities, make people more susceptible to melioidosis.” Mark Mayo said.

Students will learn about the risks of Melioidosis, and how to prevent infection by wearing covered shoes outdoors, using gloves when touching soil and avoiding the outdoors during heavy rain.

North Queensland Cowboys star Mathew Bowen said it’s an important message for the students to take back to their school, and back to their communities.

“After you’ve been playing rugby out on the field, gardening, or doing anything with soil, make sure you wash yourself with soap. You’re washing off the bacteria, and protecting yourself against infection.”

Menzies is hoping this will be one of many collaborations offering ‘real science’ opportunities to Territory students.