Te Pānui o Māehe*/March Newsletter
Science Communicators Mike Stone and Jenny Rankine welcome your feedback and suggestions at comms@nzase.org.nz. ISSN 2703-5166
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Resource: Regenerating Papatūānuku
Māori have an understanding of our land that goes back centuries, and land management practices based on mātauranga Māori values and principles. Science Communicator Mike Stone (Ngāti Pākehā) talks with Māori scientists about caring for the whenua. Download our publicly available article. |
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Resource: Ocean upwelling
Coastal or mid-ocean upwelling is an important process that helps distribute heat in our oceans and supports major fisheries. Upwelling is often inferred from observations of cool water near the coast, but little research has been done on this in Aotearoa NZ. Mike Stone investigates the process and its implications in our members-only resource. |
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Resource: Citizen Science
Citizen Science projects are very engaging for students as they get involved in “real” science and connect with scientists. The huge variety of projects available also helps students develop skills in Nature of Science and Science Capabilities. Mike Stone talks to three involved teachers and a researcher in our publicly available article. |
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Profile: Marine scientist Kura Paul-Burke
Kura (Ngāti Whakahemo, Ngāti Awa) brings together mātauranga Māori and marine science to develop practical new ways to restore our moana. Her 15-year research in Ōhiwa Harbour has contributed to a 10-fold increase in its mussel numbers. Download this publicly available profile.
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Resource: Five digital tools for Science
Scientists use digital tools and we need to be using them in the classroom with our students. Read about five digital tools that you may not have tried in our members-only article.
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SciCon keynotes
SciCon runs in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton from April 13-16. The earlybird discount deadline is now March 28 - register here, and see the inspiring programme. NZASE will hold its AGM on the Sunday.
Keynote speaker the Hon. Jan Tinetti is Minister of Education and a former primary school teacher and principal; her ministerial portfolios also include women and child poverty reduction. As a principal, she advocated for equal educational opportunities, and she believes that governments must ensure that all New Zealanders have the services they need to help them thrive.
Professor Juliet Gerrard, the PM’s Chief Science Adviser, is another high-profile keynote. She is a protein biochemist whose research relates to health, agricultural and food science, and biomaterial design. Her job connects science, science education, society and government, and she views the independence of her position as crucial. She aims to provide a balanced view of science in a world of fake news, and to contribute on major socio-scientific issues.
Grants for Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland teachers -
The Auckland Science Teachers Association offers four grants of $250 for any member to attend SciCon: Apply here. You will need to sign up to ASTA by Easter. |
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Primary Science Week: Citizen Science
Exploring our world through citizen science is the theme of PSW 2023 from Mei 8-12; join a project or create your own. See the website. |
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Kudos Science Spinners
The KSS one-day Demystify the Sci is a free, hands-on STEM programme that aims to inspire secondary students, with a strong focus on Māori and Pasifika communities. It runs on Āperira/April 27-28 in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, and Mei/May 29-June 1 in Kirikiriroa/Hamilton, starting with a creative lab for Y9 and 10, followed by a STEM hub for Y11-13. Register here.
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NZ Physics and Maths Competition
The NZPMC is open to all secondary students, testing their ability to apply Physics and Mathematics knowledge to a wide range of problems. It is held over two rounds, with $3,000 in monetary prizes. Email or register by May 20.
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Wonder Project Rocket Challenge
Taking off in Term 2, the Rocket Challenge is a free schools programme aligned to NZC Level 3, aiming to inspire Yr 5-6 students across Aotearoa. Students design, build and launch their own water rockets over 6-8 weeks, finishing with an optional competition for class videos or posters about their project. Training videos, detailed lesson plans, teaching material and resources, and a challenge kit are provided, with all student activities in te reo and English. Where possible, volunteer industry workers are paired with classes. Enrol your class. |
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Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
This unique original bush site in the Waikato offers facilitated hands-on, conservation field trips for early childhood, primary, and secondary schools with its new Manu Korokii Education Centre, as well as virtual video sessions. Bookings are essential as Term 1 is already fully booked. Costs: $11 per person onsite, excluding teaching staff; and $50 per session for video sessions.
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BLAKE Inspire for Teachers programme
Up to 90 primary and intermediate teachers from around Aotearoa will enjoy a free week of hands-on environmental learning with BLAKE (the Sir Peter Blake Trust) in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland. Some money for travel is available. There are three sessions – July 3–7, September 25–29 and October 2–6. Teachers will explore practical ways to encourage conservation, sustainability and student environmental action. Applications close on May 1.
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Techweek23
This nationwide series of events from May 13-20 showcases New Zealand innovation and tech careers, preceded by the Tomorrow Expo in Auckland at the Viaduct Events Centre from May 10-12. One day of the expo focusses on education, and many tertiary organisations will be promoting their tech courses. The programme is available from March 31.
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For the Love of Bees
Teachers in the Tāmaki Makaurau region may have taken FTLoB regenerative horticulture and bee courses or visited its thriving urban farm. The organisation recently lost major funding and needs donations by April 8 or the farm may close.
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Events related to Science education
See our listing for events by NZASE and its networks, as well as other activities of interest.
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*Names of months in te reo
Astronomer and Mātauranga Māori expert Professor Rangi Matāmua recommends using transliterations of Gregorian months, rather than original te reo Māori names for lunar months, because they refer to different periods. See the differences here.
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