Mason Scholes, has used his students’ enthusiasm for the
region’s wildlife, and spiders in particular, to develop a
successful science program in a remote community high
Photo courtesy Australian Museum
This year’s Eureka Prize winner for science
teaching has no laboratory but the surrounding bush and his
students’ enthusiasm. Since his science program began in
Maningrida three years ago, he and his students have identified 45
new species of spider—and that’s just one achievement
in Mason Scholes’ innovative approach to teaching. Julie
An innovative senior school science program in Arnhem Land that
values Indigenous Knowledge and blends it with western science is
producing outstanding results not just for the students but also
for the community.
At Maningrida Community Education Centre (CEC), Eureka Prize
winning science teacher Mason Scholes recognises that Indigenous
students have a deep understanding of their country and validates
this by developing a relevant science-based career pathway that
students can pursue in their own community.
Field work that engages both students and the Maningrida Djelk
Rangers is the key to Maningrida CEC’s successful Year 11 and
12 Contemporary Issues and Science program.
“Students love doing field work with the Djelk Rangers
which encourages them to stay in school,” Mason enthused.
Mason, who researched spiders as part of his university studies,
shares his knowledge and interest in spiders with the students.
Wolf spider with wasp
Photo: Ian Morris
“I found that spiders are exciting for students to study
as they are fascinated with them and there is a slight adrenaline
rush you get when collecting them,” he explained.
Since Mason’s program began three years ago students have
discovered 45 new species of spiders that the Queensland Museum is
currently classifying. Apart from identifying new spider species,
students working with the Djelk Rangers have been involved in the
collection and incubation of crocodile and turtle eggs, commercial
hunting of crocodiles, buffalo disease monitoring, foreign fishing
vessel issues, mining and Mimosa pigra control.
Indigenous knowledge and science interface
Mason has inspired Indigenous students to make western science
part of their culture.
“While there is no science laboratory at Maningrida, we
have the bush, and we use the bush and our environment to conduct a
series of scientific surveys.
“The students are engaged, committed and hungry for
knowledge because the work they are doing has direct causal
relationships with the world they live in,” he said.
Not only have students been engaged and motivated on country,
they have shown initiative in their approach to scientific
For example, one Year 12 student developed a successful
‘pied-piper’ technique for collecting spiders by using
the vibrations of a car’s idling engine to attract spiders.
His enterprising approach proved to be a far more effective method
for collecting spiders with 57 spiders collected when the car was
idling compared with only seven when the engine was switched
The program has been a win-win-win situation for the students,
the community and the school.
Engaging the community, especially the Maningrida Djelk Rangers
Wildlife Officers, has inspired the students.
“Students gain an understanding of the Rangers’ work
which can either encourage students to participate in that field of
work or work elsewhere if they wish.
“Last year three graduates gained employment in the
community—two as Rangers and one as a Chairman for the
Maningrida Youth Council.
“All male students, bar two, who have graduated from
Maningrida CEC have obtained full-time employment in the
community,” Mason explains.
Maningrida CEC was only accredited to offer a high school
program in 2003. This enabled students—for the first
time—to complete their Year 11 and 12 studies for the
Northern Territory Certificate of Education (NTCE) in the community
rather than leave their family to study in Darwin. The success of
this remote school program speaks for itself: in 2004 there were
four Year 12 graduates; in 2005 there were eight, and in 2006,
there were 11, three of whom achieved a Tertiary Entrance Rank
(TER) result. The program has been recognised as a model by other
remote community schools in the Top End.
A bright future
The program plans to incorporate studies of other fauna such as
insects—but not just yet according to Mason.
“We have just found a new species of tarantula which Dr
Robert Raven [from Queensland Museum] has identified for us,”
Mason said. “This is a spider that nothing is known about, so
Dr Raven has given us some real life science projects that the
students can run with which have real-life contributions to the
There is a strong possibility that some of the new spiders will
be named after the people who discovered them—the
students—although this will be subject to consultation with
The Djelk Rangers manages land management and sea around in the Bawinanga Aboriginal Council area around Manigrida. There are separate men's and woman's groups, and a junior rangers program. Men's Rangers patrol the coasts for illegal fishing boats, collect marine debris, run crocodile and long necked turtle hatcheries, undertake fire management, and participate in CSIRO research on the effects on the landscape of Cyclone Monica. The Women's Rangers hand pulling weeds both out bush and in Maningrida and assisting the men rangers to survey specific threatened fauna, run a rubbish recycling program, and assit in the Junior Rangers camps.