HIRS education

Feedback from our clients

“First and foremost, thank you so much to all of the staff at HIRS. We are so very fortunate to be able to access your amazing resources and facilities each year (for the past 14 years) in order to dive and study your coral reef ecosystems. My students over the years have gone on to do amazing things following on from this trip, including aquaculture, research and oceanography. We are so very fortunate and wish to thank you all for your professional and friendly services. Kindest regards, Mark Hanlen and the staff at Whakatane High School, New Zealand”.

35 years at Heron Island

This year marked the 35th year that Grafton High School has been visiting and conducting field trips on Heron Island Research Station. Excursion coordinator Jon Kelemec visited the island for the first time as a student in 1998. Since then, he has seen three varieties of accommodation on the Station, and on each trip has witnessed something new and exciting, either on island or underwater. The students love the immersive experience on the Reef and report that putting current environmental events into context drives them to make lifestyle changes back at home. We hope to keep seeing them over the next 35 years!

Live Learning Program

The top 10 students from the local Gladstone area were given the opportunity to visit Heron Island Research Station this year. These students were involved in the Live Learning Program, a series of activities delivered by HIRS staff, designed to introduce senior high school students to data collection and analysis on a range of topics, including coral reefs. Students also gained knowledge of scientific methodology and its application in different environments. The week was thoroughly enjoyed by all, with the students gaining new skills and appreciation for the coral reef ecosystem. HIRS runs the Live Learning Program for high school groups from across the country and looks forward to welcoming new and returning groups in the year to come.

Live Learning Program students preparing for a transect across the reef flat.