A new, interactive online show for young Tasmanians is the Peter Underwood Centre’s latest response to COVID-19 isolation.
The weekly program, UCTV Alive for Kids, will feature a presentation by a University of Tasmania researcher and a Q&A session.
Peter Underwood Centre director Professor Natalie Brown said the concept was trialled successfully last week.
“UCTV Alive for Kids is another vehicle for the Peter Underwood Centre to provide children and young people with fun, home-based extra-curricular learning,” Professor Brown said.
“We are also producing a publication called The Wonder Weekly, which is available through our social media channels and a print version is being distributed by Woolworths supermarkets statewide.
“The Wonder Weekly is utilising the knowledge of University academics and other researchers, with activities ranging from backyard birdwatching and recording sightings of the International Space Station, to fun physical challenges to help keep children active.
“With students isolated from their physical school environment and extended family and friends, and unable to participate in many regular activities outside of school hours, we recognise it is a challenging time for families.”
This week’s UCTV Alive for Kids program will go to air at 3:15 pm tomorrow [Thursday, 30 April], and will feature Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies researcher Dr Jemima Stuart-Smith discussing the fight to save the endangered red handfish.
Participants register via a link available on the Peter Underwood Centre Facebook page.
“The session is delivered through Zoom, with appropriate protocols in place so there is no video of the participants and only the host Sam Campbell and the presenters can see the questions,” Professor Brown said.