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Running the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin

This lesson sequence examines the role that river operators play in water resource management in the Murray-Darling Basin and explains how they direct water releases and track progress downstream for environmental watering and flood management. It includes a teacher PowerPoint presentation, separate teacher notes and a ...

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Drought and flood in the Murray-Darling Basin

This lesson sequence focuses on the cycle of drought and flood in the Murray-Darling Basin. It looks at perspectives on and future predictions of flood and drought and includes a research-based case study of the impact of flood and drought on a settlement or region in the Murray-Darling Basin. The lesson sequence includes ...

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Locks, Weirs and Dams

This lesson sequence examines structures that are used by water resource managers in the Murray-Darling Basin including dams, locks, weirs, barrages, fishways, channels and levee banks and explores the positive and negative effects of river regulation. It includes a teacher PowerPoint presentation, separate teacher notes ...

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Coal seam gas

This fact sheet provides information about how coal seam gas or methane is extracted and used as an energy source. It describes several coal seam gas operations in the Bowen and Surat Basins in Queensland. Several photographs and a map of projects in the Surat Basin are also included.

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Low-emission fossil fuel technologies

Find out how carbon emissions from power generation can be reduced. This is a PowerPoint presentation that deals with the contribution carbon capture and storage can make towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It explains the carbon cycle and the greenhouse effect. Techniques of carbon capture are described and their ...

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Coal crossword

Test your knowledge of coal. This is a crossword puzzle with clues related to the formation, mining and uses of coal.

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Liquefied natural gas

Find out what liquefied natural gas (LNG) is and how it is produced and used. This is an information sheet describing the characteristics of LNG as well as how LNG is processed, stored, transported and used. It includes an image of an LNG tanker.

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Solvent extraction of copper

Carry out an experimental investigation like those used in industrial laboratories. This is a fact sheet giving information and instructions for an experiment investigating the recovery of copper metal from ore using solvent extraction. It includes background information on the industrial process and chemistry involved, ...

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Renewable sources of energy

This is a worksheet consisting of a blank data table designed for students to record information resulting from their research into renewable energy resources. It specifies the types of energy resources to be investigated and suggests topics for research focus.

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Rehabilitation of a mine site

Find out how the landscape is repaired after open-cut mining. This is a PowerPoint presentation showing rehabilitation work carried out at the Ensham open-cut coal mine in central Queensland. The slides are predominantly pictorial and illustrate the processes of planning, removal and stockpiling of overburden, mining, surface ...

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Solar wind gives asteroids a tanning

This brief ABC News in Science article from 2009 explains that asteroids become redder the longer they stay out in the sun because of the solar wind. Scientists are using this to try to find our more about our planetary origins.

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Activity: coal-fired class debate

This is a web resource about reducing reliance on coal-fired power that provides a student activity accompanied by a teacher guide. It describes a class activity in which students debate the best way to reduce reliance on coal as a source of electricity. The activity requires students to research supporting evidence based ...

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Ant safari

This ABC In Depth feature article includes some good advice for exploring local ant populations as well as an excellent information report on Australian ants: the different types and their roles.

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Rainforest fruit power

This ABC In Depth feature article discusses human potential use rainforest fruit-bearing plants and the need to maintain biodiversity. Many biotic interactions that effect reproduction and dispersal are described. Issues about using seed banks to try to maintain biodiversity are discussed.

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Biodiversity and farming for a healthy planet

This is a digital resource containing information and resources, such as printable games, that relate to biodiversity and farming, and how food and materials can be produced while protecting the Earth's natural resources. It includes an extensive glossary of important terms, and external links to teacher and student resources ...

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Low-carb cars

This ABC In Depth feature article explores the electric car as an alternative to petrol and diesel vehicles, with a brief reference to hydrogen powered cars. This article is comprehensive, but it is dated at 2008.

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The Murray-Darling Basin: an introduction

This lesson sequence is designed to introduce students to key aspects of the Murray-Darling Basin including the environment, geography, economy, people, history, water cycle and water management challenges. The lesson sequence includes a teacher PowerPoint presentation, separate teacher notes and a student worksheet. This ...

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The water cycle in the Murray-Darling Basin

This lesson sequence introduces students to the water cycle or hydrological cycle in the context of the Murray-Darling Basin. It examines how the components of the water cycle are connected and contains four hands-on science investigations. Each lesson includes a teacher PowerPoint presentation, separate teacher notes and ...

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Integrated gasification combined cycle

Find out how emissions from coal-burning can be reduced by turning the coal into syngas. This is a fact sheet describing methods of coal gasification, and how the resulting syngas can drive a combined cycle power generator. It lists the advantages of the technology, including lower emissions and increased efficiency, as ...

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Energy efficiency in homes

Find out how to save energy at home and reduce your carbon footprint. This fact sheet describes strategies that can be used in the home to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.