ECU's School of Science and Future Student Engagements at the Love the Lesch Community Festival.
The natural and cultural values of the Leschenault Estuary were front and centre at the annual Love the Lesch Community Festival in April 2025.
The Leschenault Estuary is a south coast lake system between Mandurah and Bunbury. Highly valued for its natural vistas and recreational pursuits, it is ecologically significant. It is also home to bottlenose dolphins, is an important migratory route for birds and features a complex water ecosystem.
Edith Cowan University (ECU)'s School of Science and Future Student Engagements supported the local Festival with a stall offering interactive activities and provided information that highlighted the beauty and ecological complexity of the Leschenault Estuary and its macroinvertebrates.
With over 150 visitors throughout the day from kids to adults to dogs, the hands-on activities featured samples from the estuary and demonstrated the relationship between aquatic bugs and a healthy ecosystem. The activity was very popular as the samples were teeming with various macroinvertebrate.
Participants scooped out the macroinvertebrates they could find in the seaweed and algae samples, for a closer look in an ice cube tray.
Seaweed and algae samples containing macroinvertebrates.
Tracy Zemunik, a third-year Bachelor of Science student majoring in Conservation Biology, led the macroinvertebrate activity, helping participants identify the macroinvertebrate species in the samples and discussed how they contribute to sustaining a healthy ecosystem in the estuary.
Tracy lives regionally in the South West and said studying Conservation Biology at the South West campus has enabled her to pursue her passions in this area, which would not have been possible if the course was only available in Perth.
"Studying has been a great experience and there is a lot of support available because of the close-knit team of students and staff at the South West campus," Tracy said.
"The Love the Lesch Festival is a great way to see the efforts of different stakeholders in what it takes to protect and improve the Leschenault Estuary.
"I met many people during the day, of all ages, who were passionate about protecting the Lesch, it was also a great networking event for me to be a part of."
ECU School of Science Student and Ambassador Tracy Zemunik led the macroinvertebrate activity.
ECU's namesake, Edith Cowan, believed that education is the key to growth, change and improvement. We are proud to continue her legacy by actively advancing the role of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Targeted outreach activities, like the School of Science's involvement in the Festival, aims to offer hands-on opportunities for students, inspire diverse communities and encourage future scientists to pursue studies at ECU.
ECU is proud to support the Love the Lesch Community Festival for the second year in row and the local community's efforts and activism in conserving the estuary as a vital part of the South West ecosystem.
ECU's Bachelor of Science (Environmental Management & Conversation Biology) is uniquely delivered on the South West Campus and focuses on natural habitats and ecosystems like the Leschenault Estuary.
Meet more ECU Science students at the South West Career Expo on Wednesday, 7 May 2025 and find out more about studying Science at ECU.
