Kākāpō numbers have rocketed in the last seven years compared with the previous 20, helped by accurate genetic information that informs conservation decisions. NZASE Science Communicator Mike Stone investigates.
Read MoreOrganic chemist Nic Bason
Nic is an organic chemist who works on new molecules to improve solar cell efficiency.
Read MoreBioinformatician Alana Alexander
Alana Alexander is a marine evolutionary biologist who studies how sea creatures evolve and change.
Read MorePicture books in science learning
Picture books tell a good story with evocative images, and they can be used as resources in a teacher’s kete across the curriculum. Kath Murdoch, a specialist in inquiry-based learning, says “The compelling pull of narrative can often lead us to understanding the world more deeply than any ‘data’ ever can.”
Read MoreDisciplinary literacy in Science 2: Reading
As they progress through school, students are asked to read increasingly complex information. How well students read, understand, and use this material can affect how deeply they understand the science. Science teachers are best placed to guide students through scientific texts, with their unique structure and vocabulary
Read MoreQuantum physicist Jacob Ngaha
Dr Jacob Ngaha is Aotearoa New Zealand’s first Māori quantum physicist.
Read MoreCRISiSLab Challenge
This annual real-world, hands-on challenge is engaging students from the Wellington area. The scientists who run the challenge are keen to involve more girls and Māori students. Science Communicator Mike Stone talks with Dr Marion Tan and Alicia Cui
Read MoreHydrogen-fuelled vehicles
To meet the issues of climate change we need to find alternative vehicle fuels that emit less carbon. Hydrogen-fuelled transport is gaining momentum in Aotearoa New Zealand (ANZ). In collaboration with iwi, we are making green hydrogen, trialling its use in heavy vehicles and researching aspects of a hydrogen-fuelled future. Mike Stone investigates.
Read MoreRepo – Wetlands
Wetlands, areas of soggy ground with standing water, were seen as undesirable by Pākehā settlers and cleared for farming or urban development. Unsurprisingly, only ten percent of our wetlands remain. They are now seen as precious, important for removing sediment and toxins from water, for protecting land from flooding and for absorbing carbon (eg, peat bogs). Science Communicator Mike Stone talks with two primary teachers whose students visit a repo to learn more about the community of living things.
Read MoreDisciplinary literacy in Science 1: Vocab
Scientific writing has its own structure and vocabulary, and reading it is a specialised skill. Science teachers are uniquely placed to help students read, comprehend, and use this material. Students not only better understand the science, they also learn about how to structure their own writing.
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