Dr John Caldow

John first became interested in nature as a child. He has 30 years of experience as an educator; the last 15 years being focused on biodiversity education. Dr Caldow has been Program Director for Bug Blitz Trust since 2008. In that time, Bug Blitz has implemented some 400 biodiversity-focussed field events around Victoria.

John’s particular area of interest is terrestrial invertebrates, with spiders being one of his favourite animals. He is interested in the amazing diversity of life; the roles biodiversity plays in maintaining healthy ecosystems and how we can re-connect children with nature through outdoor field learning.

John achieved a PhD in Environmental Education from Monash University for his thesis titled: Connecting Biodiversity Field Studies with Classroom Curriculum: Understanding Children’s Learning and Teachers’ Perspectives.”

Wominjeka (Welcome). We acknowledge the Yaluk-ut Weelam as the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet. Yaluk-ut Weelam means ‘people of the river camp’ and is connected with the coastal land at the head of Port Phillip Bay, extending from the Werribee River to Mordialloc. The Yaluk-ut Weelam are part of the Boon Wurrung, one of the five major language groups of the greater Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to the land, their ancestors and their elders—past, present and to the future.