Pre-Conference Workshop

24 June, 1–3:30pm

Climate Action Campus Ōtautahi

Join us in Ōtautahi Christchurch for an interactive, field-based pre-conference workshop exploring hopeful climate change education, citizen science, restoration, and post-earthquake landscape change in the Ōtākaro Avon River Red Zone.

Limited to 50 participants*, the afternoon includes a guided tour of Climate Action Campus (CAC), a satellite site of Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery School, where you’ll learn how over 60 local schools engage onsite with climate change education and take hopeful, practical action. With more than 55 collaborating organisations, the campus operates as a living hub of experimentation, restoration, and community-led solutions.

Participants will also take part in a Red Zone bioblitz at Swanns Road Wildlife Gardens. As part of the citizen science experience coordinated by CitSciNZ, Eric Pawson (Ōtākaro Living Laboratory) will share insights into landscape change through rephotography, followed by biodiversity recording with Rob Cruickshank (City Nature Lab) using the iNaturalist app (please bring your own device).

Come ready to explore, contribute and engage in real-world science.

*This workshop is included in a SCANZ 2026 Conference registration. Participants must register for the conference and indicate they plan to attend the pre-conference workshop during registration. Or, if you missed indicating interest in this workshop when you registered, email hello@scanz.co.nz before 14 June to confirm your interest in attending the workshop.