Motueka South School - Deanna Ferguson

Name:   Deanna Ferguson

School:   Motueka South School           

Region:   Tasman

Programme Title:   Bioprotection and Biosecurity for Plants in the Tasman Region

Host:   Plant and Food Research, Motueka           

Blog:   https://deannaj1963.blogspot.com/

At Motueka South School, their vision is to revitalise their science curriculum so that it more effectively engages students and nurtures their curiosity and understanding of scientific concepts. The school aims to connect to their local environment through the Nature of Science and thereby encourage students' investigative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Through partnerships with local businesses, science organisations and researchers, they aspire to create meaningful learning opportunities that extend beyond the classroom to actively involve the community and provide authentic, real-world experiences for their students.

Deanna has 16 years primary teaching experience. During this time, she has had the opportunity to teach children from a diverse range of year levels, and socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. She is passionate about providing students with the opportunity to experience science through the natural world and sees the interest and learning success that everyday science brings to children when they connect to the world around them. She believes that practical hands-on experiences in a meaningful context gives students the opportunities to learn what science is, how science works and feel empowered to contribute positively to their world.

Deanna will be hosted by Plant and Food Research, Motueka. She will work alongside the Plant Pathology and Entomology teams. She will be learning about disease management, The Disease Triangle, breeding for disease resistance and the role of insects in plant health.

During her placement, Deanna will:

• work alongside scientific and technical staff in field and laboratory investigations developing her understanding of how science underpins our horticulture industry.
• see how modelling and prediction are used to prepare for potential pathogens not yet in New Zealand.
• work with growers on disease monitoring and spread, highlighting the need for science in our community.
• have the opportunity to complete her own mini investigation into the Dispersal of Myrtle Rust to give her hands-on experience of scientific processes. This will assist her in gaining a better understanding of the Nature of Science within the workplace, that can be applied to the school setting when she returns.

In addition, she hopes to enhance her leadership abilities and deepen her understanding of mātauranga Māori to more effectively bridge traditional Māori knowledge with contemporary scientific approaches. Her overarching goal is to deepen the school’s connection to their local environments in meaningful and sustainable ways that value the role of science in an integrated curriculum.