As part of Science Week, on Wednesday CSIRO Scientist Dr Megan Sebben had a lively discussion with our Year 2 Scientists about the water cycle. Dr Megan is an expert in groundwater. Year 2 shared what they have recently learned about the water cycle with Dr Megan who reiterated that “we don’t create new water, it keeps cycling around from rivers and lakes to the sky and rain to the ground again – the molecules are recycled.” Together Dr Megan and Year 2 discussed how evaporation, dissolution and dispersal work, particularly with regard to the water in the ground underneath us which Dr Megan likened to a soggy sponge. Dr Megan answered burning questions our scientists had, such as ‘why are sharks in salt water’ and ‘how does the water cycle keep going when it’s not raining? and ‘why don’t rivers and lakes have waves?’

Dr Megan shared that “97% of the water we can use on the planet is groundwater so it’s extremely important that we take care of it.” She also explained why Australia has salt water lakes, and that in the last Ice Age, Australia was under the sea which is why if you dig deep in Australia, there’s sea water and some of the rocks in our deserts look like they have ripples – they’re from the bottom of the ocean.

Our Year 2 scientists spoke about using science to solve problems, particularly to help solve water pollution and drought.

Thank you to Debbie Arnheim, to CSIRO and to Dr Megan Sebben for this informative Science Week session.