“Mermaids” under Threat. How can we monitor dugongs in Indonesia to aid in their protection?

Overview of Module: 1) Content. This module introduces students to dugong ecology, their dependence on seagrass ecosystems, and the key threats affecting their populations, with a focus on the Indonesian context. It also explores practical approaches to monitoring dugongs, including both direct and indirect methods, and how these can support conservation and rescue efforts. 2) Activities. Students engage through interactive activities such as quizzes, case studies, and applied exercises on monitoring design and data interpretation, as well as community-based approaches like interviews. 3) Impact. The module emphasizes critical thinking by asking students to evaluate technological and logistical constraints and to integrate scientific methods with local ecological knowledge. Overall, it equips learners with both conceptual understanding and practical tools, making it valuable for instructors aiming to teach applied, interdisciplinary marine conservation in real-world contexts. Learning Objectives: Explain the ecological significance of dugong monitoring and its role in marine conservation. Understand the basic regulation, ethical, and technical consideration in using drones and AI tools to investigate and document the presence and behaviour of marine wildlife. Describe the essential steps and components involved in planning a dugong observation or monitoring study using drones. Evaluate the limitations and challenges of implementing technological methods in resource-limited contexts. Analyze how integrating scientific methods with local community knowledge can enhance conservation outcomes. Translation: This module will be available soon in Bahasa Indonesia. Support was provided by:Agrant from the United States National Science Foundation (DBI-RCN-UBE 2120141).