2025
June
Recently I was given a generated image of 32 Tools to Save You Hours of Work as an Educator. Looks like it was from Med Kharback PhD on LinkedIn.
Do any of you use any of these tools? Are the good?
I have used Canva.com and Quizlet.com but none of the other tools listed here.
6 June - Update on Frog Saunas - Gardening Australia
SERIES 36 | Episode 15 - 6 June 2025
Costa is visiting Sydney’s Macquarie University to check out some new
research that is helping save frogs from a life-threatening disease – and to
hear how home gardeners can help, too.
Conservation biologist Dr Anthony Waddle set up a research project to tackle
a fungus that is killing off frogs – the chytrid fungus.
It’s an invasive aquatic pathogen that attacks frogs’ skin and affects their
ability to hold onto water and electrolytes that they need for their hearts
to function, causing them to suffer a cardiac arrest.
The fungus has decimated Australian frog populations but is also a global
pandemic and has caused 98 extinctions already; six species have been lost
in Australia. “This makes it the worst infectious disease ever,” Anathony
says.
The fungus arrived through the port of Brisbane in 1978 and has since spread
nationwide.
Anthony has set up a system of holding tanks, covered by netting to keep
wild amphibians out, where frogs are kept in a controlled environment.
The simple rescue set-up involves an off-the-shelf vegetable greenhouse and
a pile of masonry bricks.
“Chytrid likes to be cold,” explains Anthony; this causes high seasonal
outbreaks over winter, like flu or colds in humans. By putting the brick
refuges in the sun where they heat up, this attracts the frogs, which like
to be warm – this increases their body temperatures and stops the infection.
Anthony uses perforated ricks with holes in as the frogs can hide out in the
hollows and stay safe from predators, while keeping warm.
How to build a frog ‘spa’ retreat!
What you need:
10 perforated masonry bricks
Black furniture paint
A small greenhouse (kits can be bought at most garden stores or you could
create one using with recycled packaging materials).
What you do:
1.First paint your bricks black with furniture paint to increase their
heat-absorbing qualities. Once dried, this is safe for frogs.
2.Line up three bricks on their sides (holes running horizontally through
the middle), setting them about a thumb’s width apart.
3.Take three more bricks and line these up on top at 90 degrees to the
‘ground floor’, so they are more stable.
4.Place another three across for a third layer, then place the 10th brick on
top on its own, to add extra stability. This can be laid face-down (with
holes pointing upwards).
5.To create the warmer, moist environment, place the small greenhouse over
the top.
6.When putting on the cover, leave a small gap at the base so the frogs can
get in and out.
Location:
Set up your frog ‘spa’ in an area where you’re likely to get frogs – near a
pond or creek or even moist ground and lush vegetation.
It needs to receive sunlight for a few hours a day to heat up the bricks.
Setting up a frog hideout over the colder months is the most important time,
so from late autumn until late spring.
May
I was thrilled when I watched ABC Landline on the 18th May to see the Food Scientist in action. They had Sensory Experts tasting different mangoes to then work out the breeding of the best mangoes.
"Specially trained tasting panels are helping to breed better mangoes. Scientists trying to perfect the ideal variety for the Australian market and palate are breeding for tree height, yield, blush, and of course taste."
Video on Landline 10mins (this video will be archived and won't be available unless it goes to YouTube)
17 May 2025 - Queensland lab works on breeding perfect Aussie mango. Transcript of Landline video.
This article talks about the importance of the Food Scientist and the Sensory Experts.
Here is a transcript from Landline and talks about the importance of the Food Scientist and favour, texture, volatiles and mouth feel in the experimentation of creating the perfect mango.
January 1
Frog Saunas
This article shows how important it is for us to help save frogs very simply by building a 'frog sauna'.
Instructions on how to build a frog sauna - PDF 4 pages with photos.Local copy
Australian sauna helps save frogs from flesh-eating fungus
| AFP
https://youtu.be/1TNBjk5L728?si=wkYWQKEMzEyI5qsF
Only on YouTube
Previous Blogs
Any interesting educational blogs you have come across? Let me know: Frances.Moore@onthejob.education
          
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