Botanical Burglary

There has been a theft of a valuable plant specimens at the Garden, and we need your help investigating the crime.

Apply your scientific skills to examine the evidence and help us find the culprit.

Students will learn about forensic botany, recent advancements in the field and the methods that Botanic Gardens scientists used to solve one of Australia’s most infamous kidnappings.

• Use primary and secondary data to participate in forensic analysis of microscopic pollen samples.
• Use a dichotomous key to compare plant samples with living specimens in the Garden displays.
• Conduct field tests to assess soil composition and structure.

• Conducting investigations by completing a range of tests, e.g. microscopy, soil analysis and plant identification.
• Identifying the structural features of plants to collect and analyse data.
• Investigating the role science plays in the community, e.g. forensic science, fieldwork and plant science
• Using data to create plausible and creative solutions to problems.
• Identifying the role Botanic Gardens can play in the scientific community.

Focused Syllabus Outcomes

Science

• Relate the structure and function of living things to their classification, survival and reproduction (SC4-14LW)
• Appreciate the importance of science in their lives and the role of scientific inquiry in increasing their understanding of the world around them (SC4-1VA)
• Follow a sequence of instructions to safely undertake a range of investigation types collaboratively and individually (SC4-6WS)