Murder under the Microscope
2012
  • About
  • Past cases
  • For teachers

About

Murder under the Microscope is Australia's largest online environmental game. It is suitable for school students in years 5 to 10, typically aged 9 to 14 years.

From 23 July, 2012 the Catchment Headquarters website will be live. In the weeks that follow, clues will be uncovered.

2012 registration

Registration for MuM2012 will be available from mid February 2012. Send an email to catchment.hq@det.nsw.edu.au if you wish to receive more information.

Calendar

Key dates so far confirmed for 2012:

  • 23 July:
    Catchment HQ online
  • 23 August:
    The Big Day: Accusation
  • 24 August:
    Finalists
  • 26 September:
    Close of entries

Catchment HQ - MuM 2011 Dr Adjete - MuM 2011 Danno Bookham - MuM 2011 Alyssa - MuM 2011 Victims - 2011

Past Cases

Murder under the Microscope investigators have been solving mysteries since 1995. For each case, EcoSleuths all over Australia have researched and analysed evidence to solve an environmental crime. Explore the last five cases using the links below.

  • MuM 20072007
  • MuM 20082008
  • MuM 20092009
  • MuM 20102010
  • MuM 20112011

2007 ECI – Wetlands

Most people see weeds as a benign nuisance and weeding as something that can be put off until tomorrow. But for the native flora and fauna of Australia – weeds are a matter of life or death. In this case the death was the Black bittern and the weed was the introduced species, Salvinia molesta. Visit MuM2007

2008 Heartbreak on the Horizon

Soil is a living entity that is formed through the weathering of rocks, the growth and decay of plants, and the efforts of millions of small animals and micro-organisms. Grains, vegetables, fruit, meat, in fact everything we grow on the land to eat, depends on this process. But unsustainable land management can lead to the destruction of the soil and the demise of the local species such as the Bush Stone-Curlew. Visit MuM2008

2009 Crisis on the Coast

Buzz pollinators such as the Blue-banded bee are specialised pollinators to a variety of native plants. When the habitat of the Blue-banded bee was destroyed by an over-zealous clean-up the effects were far reaching. Visit MuM2009

2010 Shockwave on the Shoreline

Small changes in temperature can have a big effect on the lives of organisms living in the sea. Species can move from their normal distribution to new areas. This is what happened to the Weedy seadragon when the spiny sea urchin moved into its area as a result of rising temperatures. Visit MuM2010

2011 Horror in the Harvest

While ants play a significant role in the health of an ecosystem, they can also be serious pests if their world is disturbed. Fire ants can survive floods, famine and being transported great distances. Hitch-hiking all the way to Renmark, their toxic sting saw the death of several baby Superb Fairy-wrens. Visit MuM2011

For Teachers

In Murder under the Microscope, students are presented with an eco-crime they must investigate. Working as a team, students study the issues and crime sites, research the victims and villains and use the clues provided by Catchment Headquarters to try to solve the mystery.

Resources such as a teacher's wiki, timeline of events, activity cards and other support materials are provided to assist teachers in supporting their students.

How to play MuM

The how to play videos provide useful instruction and tips for the investigation necessary when playing Murder under the Microscope.

In memoriam John Sauer who kindly helped to make these videos about Murder under the Microscope in 2007. John passed away suddenly in 2010.

Calendar

Key dates so far confirmed for 2012:

  • 23 July:
    Catchment HQ online
  • 23 August:
    The Big Day: Accusation
  • 24 August:
    Finalists
  • 26 September:
    Close of entries

Department of Education and Communities University of Western Sydney