Schools can now register for Murder under the Microscope 2008, an environmental awareness game where students in Years 5 to 10 solve a fictitious eco-crime.

Last year’s challenge was played by 1,000 teams from 684 schools in NSW and around Australia, with 11 million hits on the interactive website over the three months the game was running.

Students are fed clues and have to identify the victim, the villain and the crime site. The teams can also prepare a catchment management plan to prevent the villain striking again.

Last year’s victim was the black bittern bird, the villain was salvinia and the crime site was Crystal Waters Lagoon on the NSW north coast.

Murder under the Microscope was developed and is run by the education department’s Centre for Learning Innovation. The website – www.microscope.edu.au – contains time-released web video, audio and graphic elements that particularly appeal to students.

Juniper Networks will this year sponsor Murder under the Microscope, which starts on April 28. Shaun Page, the company’s vice president, Australia & New Zealand, said the game tapped into students’ connection with technology in a learning context.

“What a great way for young people to learn about environmental protection and develop values about protecting our natural assets. We wish our eco sleuths all the best,” he said.