Social Enterprise Hub providing unique learning at the Dark Sky Reserve

A Dark Sky Reserve is an area of land protected from light pollution which allows the general public to access the clearest and best views of the night sky and its constellations. For a destination to become home to a Dark Sky Reserve, the level of darkness and area it spans needs to be accredited by DarkSky International, an internationally significant accreditation similar to a World Heritage Listing.

Mid Murray Landcare SA, supported by the Mid Murray Council, worked for three and a half years to establish the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve (RMIDSR), which received accreditation from DarkSky International in October 2019. It is one of only 22 accreditations globally providing a unique opportunity for our students.

The reserve, located just 90 minutes northeast of Adelaide, is a remarkable place to camp and stargaze, especially amongst astronomers, astrophotographers, tourists, and outdoor and nature enthusiasts.

Students drive productivity and impact in return for industry experience

Our Social Enterprise Hub at Torrens University Australia delivers consultancy services and great outcomes to purpose driven & not-for-profit enterprise partners across Australia and globally. Our talented students help drive productivity and impact under the leadership of an industry expert. In exchange, students gain practical and meaningful industry experience helping prepare them for their future careers as they shape, design and deliver consultancy projects.

Our consultancy teams have worked on a number of challenging and interesting aspects of the RMIDSR since 2022 including a virtual reality installation developed by our Design course students that illustrates the impact of light pollution. The display is now situated in the Mannum Visitor Information Centre and is proving very popular with visitors. Branding and messaging were developed by our Master of Business Administration students, and our Graphic Design students are now working on the Reserve’s visual identity.

Our Master of Global Project Management students developed the business case and stakeholder engagement plan, and technical requirements for the observatory and planetarium were developed by Master of Engineering Management students.

RMIDSR is the brainchild of local landowner and Chairman of Mid Murray Landcare SA, Chris Tugwell, and has created an important initiative for the region as a whole and the local tourism industry in particular.

“When we first engaged with the Social Enterprise Hub we were at an exciting stage when we were looking to collaborate with fresh minds to help articulate our vision for the RMIDSR and the future observatory, as well as design our brand,” said Chris.

“Working with the students has exceeded our expectations,” said Chris. “We’re extremely grateful for the ongoing collaboration and look forward to working on several more aspects of the project together.”

Students visit Meldanda Flora and Fauna Reserve in the heart of the DSR

Enhancing our academics’ knowledge to better prepare future students

Torrens University senior academics and Master of Business Administration students Nathan Scoular and Elicia Simon shared how collaborating on the initiative’s branding and messaging consolidated their design and business knowledge and provided valuable insights for future projects with their students.

“After many years of implementing work integrated learning initiates within the university, undertaking a live brief project with the Social Enterprise Hub and the River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve was a unique experience,” said Nathan Scoular, Industry Director and Director of Product Innovation at Torrens University Australia.

“As a Program Director, I have always championed the value of authentic Work Integrated Learning experiences, particularly through live brief formats, which bridge the gap between theory and real-world application,” said Elicia Simon, Program Director, Design and Creative Technology at Torrens University Australia.

“Approaching the project with the perspective of an academic and a student, and utilising both design and business skills, not only enabled us to deliver a project that met the client's needs, but also one which opened up further opportunity for additional work integrated learning projects with our Design and Creative Technology undergraduate students in subsequent study periods,” said Nathan.

“Participating in the live brief Dark Sky Reserve project during my MBA enabled me to apply academic knowledge and diverse professional experiences, highlighting how integrating design and business skills can produce innovative and practical solutions for real-world problem-solving,” said Elicia.

“Experiencing Work Integrated Learning firsthand as a student enriched my insights as an educator and Program Director, enabling me to enhance the undergraduate WIL curriculum and better prepare students for future challenges,” said Elicia.

Distinctive ongoing experiences for our Engineering and Project Management students

"At Torrens University our team are committed to providing distinctive ongoing experiences for our Project Management and Engineering Management students, ensuring they engage with diverse, real-world challenges that prepare them for future success," said Mansoor Mohammed Hub, Lead Consultant and Learning Facilitator.

“This opportunity for developing a compelling business case to secure the project funding stands out as our students have collaborated with a wide range of passionate stakeholders, all dedicated to creating a unique and memorable experience for visitors,” said Mansoor. “Our students take great pride and honour in being part of this project business case development for the Dark Sky Observatory.”

Hoss Mohsenian, Hub Lead Consultant and Learning Facilitator explains the opportunities this has created for our Master of Engineering Management and Master of Global Project Management students.

“This opportunity is unique in that our students have been collaborating with many varied stakeholders who are passionate about providing a distinctive and remarkable experiences for visitors,” said Hoss.

“This project has massive social impact for South Australia’s tourism, with many paid jobs and volunteer roles created,” said Hoss. “Our relationship with the client is so strong, and they are highly satisfied with our students’ contributions and the project looks likely to generate more ongoing opportunities for our students.”

Students’ visit to the site of the proposed Observatory in Swan Reach

In October 2023, Master of Engineering Management and Master of Global Project Management students from Melbourne and Adelaide, along with Lead Consultants and Social Enterprise Hub management, visited the Dark Sky Reserve observatory site. Chris Tugwell met with the cohort to articulate the importance of this project and diversity of interests. The tour gave students a chance to develop a greater first-hand appreciation of the proposed development opportunity.

“I used my project management experience to outline and execute technical specifications, with a focus on the integration and optimisation of telescopes and observing equipment. This process involved designing strategies to assist in the acquisition of the observatory and its equipment,” said Mariann Pacheco, Melbourne-based Master Engineering Management student.

Mariann said it was a pleasure to travel to Adelaide to see first-hand where the project will be implemented.

“It truly was an honour to be part of such an extraordinary project and contribute to its advancement, which will no doubt become a major milestone for Adelaide and the surrounding area,” said Mariann.

Master of Engineering Management student, Carolina Diaz agrees, feeling proud to contribute to the initiative’s development.

“I leveraged my project management skills to develop the technical requirements for the project, focusing on integrating natural resources and optimising energy efficiency,” said Carolina. “This involved creating sustainable solutions to enhance the reserve's infrastructure and operational capabilities while ensuring effective planning, execution, and monitoring of project milestones.”

Committed to scientific advancement

Hoss explained that the scope of the work is continuing on two fronts for our Master of Engineering Management and Master of Global Project Management students including developing technical specifications with a focus on the proposed planetarium / observatory and its services including advanced telescopes, visitor experiences and educational programs. The second is research to better understand scientific community demand with a goal to not only attract tourist, but to educate and help astronomical researchers, academic institutions, develop links with the Adelaide-based Australian Space Agency and industry partners across the globe.

“The scientific community demands high-precision instruments and advanced technologies for data collection and analysis. This includes high-resolution telescopes, sensitive imaging sensors, and sophisticated software for data processing. Additionally, there is a need for robust infrastructure to minimise light pollution and ensure optimal observational conditions,” said Hoss.

“The RMIDSR project offers numerous advantages beyond serving as an excellent opportunity for students to enter the industry and acquaint themselves with South Australia and its possibilities,” said Hoss. “It also fosters community involvement, educational opportunities, enhances tourism, and drives economic development.

“Additionally, it provides students with insight into the practical aspects of the industry, enriching their understanding of the professional landscape,” said Hoss.

The Social Enterprise Hub will continue to support this important initiative as the project seeks to better define its business requirements, articulate the vision and attract commitment from government, industry and community and the observatory become a reality.

Hero image courtesy of River Murray Dark Sky Tours.