Way back in Year 2, Tongala student River Townsend dressed as Dr Kruszelnicki for Book Week.
“I got this book here for my birthday four or give years ago and started reading him, and started listening to his podcast,” River said.
“He’s really nice and he’s very smart.”
Three years on, River is helping the author of Dr Karl's Little Book of Climate Change Science come to Tongala Primary School himself — albeit virtually.
River first met Dr Kruszelnicki over a Zoom meeting and, impressed by the Tongala student's enthusiasm, the popular TV and radio personality gave River his phone number to send through science questions as they arose.
“I’ve been texting with him and asked for a Q&A at the school,” River said. “We had a Q&A scheduled but lockdown interfered with that but we had a new date.”
In the meantime, Dr Kruszelnicki surprised the school by sending a box containing a copy of every one of his books to Tongala — each with their own quote and signature inside the front cover.
The school has reduced the amount of waste it sends to landfill by over 90 per cent, from 25 garbage bags per week to just two, and environmental studies facilitator Brett Radley said Tongala's community of about 140 students was planning to increase its environmental efforts.
"We would like to expand our composting, and we have an aged care facility right across the road — we would like to help them cut down on their waste,” he said.
In partnership with Campaspe Shire Council, the primary school has become a soft plastics drop-off point for the wider community.
Mr Radley said students were initiating conversations with their extended families, asking parents and carers to help them reduce their environmental footprint.
As one of the driving forces behind the school's switch to a more responsible recycling system, Mr Radley said he was blown away by students’ willingness to learn and change their behaviours.
“The way to change is through the young, they're more flexible and adaptable and open to change — things come easily to them,” he said.
"They see the value in it for their future."
Budding scientist River said he had noticed a change in attitude among his peers.
“It’s really good, it’s reduced what we’ve been taking to landfill and everyone’s actually listening,” he said.
"They know it’s important."
River has read eight of Dr Kruszelnicki's titles already, and he’s excited to share them with his classmates.
A Q&A with the charismatic and knowledgeable scientist won't be limited to questions about climate change — students will grapple with quirky questions about space, time and beyond.
River has already asked his idol what would happen if he played a guitar on the moon — would the notes sound different?
“He said no, it wouldn’t change it because the frequency is still the same,” River said of Dr Kruszelnicki’s reply.
“He gave me a big formula, which didn’t have gravity in it.”
And River already has another question lined up for the Q&A: he wants to know why he can’t tickle himself.
Mr Radley said he saw huge potential in arming Tongala Primary School students with an understanding of science and their environmental impact.
“The power that comes from that is amazing,” he said.
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