Thirteen secondary teachers from throughout New Zealand are investigating topics as diverse as motorhome design, conservation sanctuaries, marine organisms in Doubtful Sound, sustainable building practices and the use of sea grass in gardening.
The teachers have been awarded Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher Fellowships for the first two terms of 2012.
Under the scheme, teachers take leave from their schools to work with researchers at host organisations, gaining experience in research and practise.
The scheme’s focus is on providing teachers with the opportunity to gain new and up-to-date knowledge to enhance their teaching and their students’ learning.
The scheme is run by the Royal Society of New Zealand and funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation. The teachers selected come from schools all around New Zealand.
Richard Meylan, Manager – Education at the Royal Society of New Zealand, says the aim is to take excellent teachers and to give them up-to-date knowledge and experiences.
“The wide range of topics the teachers are researching show that science, mathematics and technology topics are relevant to many aspects of everyday life.
“Fellowship experience will help teachers deliver lessons to students based on real-life situations drawn from the work with their host organisation.”
Host organisations for this group of teachers include UNITEC, Massey University, New Zealand Marine Studies Centre, Department of Conservation and Zealandia: the Karori Sanctuary Experience.
Successful applicants will have spent many months designing their project and liaising with host organisations. Selection criteria include the calibre of the applicant, the viability of the project and its relevance to their classes when back in school.
Details of the teachers selected and their regions are listed below. Please contact the teachers’ host organisations to arrange interviews.
Teacher Fellow |
School |
Host Organisation |
Project Description |
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Auckland region |
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Onehunga High School |
UNITEC New Zealand |
Jacek’s project is focused on conservation on Rangitoto Island. The research component of the program is aimed at updating the information on the distribution Southern black-backed gull. |
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AGC Parnell |
Massey University |
Malcolm will be learning, among other things, how mathematics is used to locate drifting objects at sea, such as containers falling off a stricken cargo ship, as well as forecasting the path of an oil spill. |
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Tangaroa College |
The University of Auckland |
Sandhya is being hosted by the School of Chemical Sciences at the University of Auckland. She has chosen to work on a food of Pasifika origin to examine dietary fibre and antioxidant aspects of Taro leaves. |
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Central North Island (Northern) region – Waikato, Bay of Plenty |
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Huntly College |
University of Waikato |
William is interested in finding out about sustainable building materials and systems. His specific areas of interest are organic architecture and bio-mimicry. |
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Otumoetai Intermediate |
Wakerley Motorhomes Ltd |
Murray is working with Grant Wakerley and his team who produce custom built motorhomes at the top end of the market. Murray is interested in learning about the SolidWorks computer aided drawing (CAD) programme that Wakerley’s use in the design and build process. |
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Wellington region |
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Heretaunga College |
Zealandia: the Karori Sancturary Experience, Victoria University |
Emma is being hosted by Victoria University and Zealandia to analysis biodiversity conservation in New Zealand, primarily looking at the difference in species numbers in fenced and unfenced sanctuaries. |
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Onslow College |
Victoria University |
Jan will identify and evaluate methods of gathering, storing, analysing and using field data to assess and monitor biodiversity that could be used in schools. He will identify local sites for possible conservation and restoration projects as well as biodiversity hotspots suitable for field studies. |
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South Island (Northern) region |
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Golden Bay High School |
Lincoln University |
Kevin’s project focuses on the use of sea grass as mulch for gardens. The idea for his research came from a fellow gardener who put “sea grass” mulch around her plants, only to find them dying over the ensuing weeks. This raised the question about the benefits and safety of this commonly used local mulch. |
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Riccarton High School |
Westland Milk Product ltd |
Gillian is being hosted by Westland Milk Products, Hokitika. She wants to understand primary processing and technology and all food safety and quality procedures that are involved in producing dairy products for export. |
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South Island (Southern) region |
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Southland Girls’ High School |
Department of Conservation Te Anau |
Lynley’s project focuses on mistletoe monitoring in Fiordland. She will be surveying this area for Alepis flavida and recording the location of plants using a GPS. She will establish mistletoe recruitment plots to monitor possum browse, which will provide evidence about the benefit of future possum control programs in the area. |
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Columba College |
University of Otago |
Praneeta is exploring ‘predictive adaptive response’ (PAR) where a fetus predicts its future environment from maternal cues, and changes its physiology in response. |
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Gore High School |
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre |
Darren will be using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to collect video data on the distribution of marine organisms in Doubtful Sound and Otago Harbour. He will be looking at how these could be developed into an interactive learning resource for schools. |
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