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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Our country is unusual in its reliance largely on renewable sources of energy for generating electricity. How did this arise and how does it meet our needs today? Mere Manning (Kahungunu ki te Wairoa)and NZASE Communicator Mike Stone (Pākehā) investigates. Image: Clyde Dam, NZ on Screen, Iwi whitiāhua
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Active volcanoes in Aotearoa/NZ are found in the Taupō Volcanic Zone (TVZ), and result from subduction at the plate boundary. About 2.5 million years ago (MYA) when the TVZ was just beginning to form, magma created by this plate boundary was being erupted further to the west in the central Waikato region.
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Many tertiary organisations run science expos to connect graduates with job opportunities, and AGGS, for example, runs a science expo to encourage students into science careers. Wellington teachers ran a very successful expo in 2023 to connect teachers with science education providers (ELC, Enriched Learning Curriculum, formerly LEOTC). Mike Stone talks to some of those […]
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Predator Free 2050 is an ambitious goal for Aotearoa/NZ, but achievable if everyone does their bit. NZASE Science Communicator Mike Stone draws on an expert’s knowledge and talks with teachers who have been involving students in trapping rats and possums.
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Frosts can be damaging, reducing yield and quality in crops, pasture and forests. Farmers need to understand the circumstances of their location to best protect their plants. NZASE Science Communicator Mike Stone investigates.
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In this resource, NZASE Science Communicator Mike Stone provides an overview of nine key New Zealand standards essential for designing safe and functional science laboratories. The standards cover various aspects, including materials for benches, floors, and walls, shelving requirements, aisle widths, and lab siting considerations. Specific guidelines are provided for hazardous chemical storage, eyewash and […]
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Many schools hold human skeletons and are wondering about the right thing to do with them. As English-medium schools listen more closely to the responses of their Māori students and parents, they start to ask if it is even ethical to have them. NZASE Science Communicator Mike Stone talks to experts about different perspectives and possible approaches.
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There are very few Māori and Pasifika graduates in STEM subjects; for example, Māori and Pasifika each make up 6.7% of STEM graduates from the University of Auckland. So Māori and Pasifika scientists are thin on the ground. In English-medium schools, Māori and Pasifika students often struggle to engage with Science, and don’t see a place for themselves in the subject. NZASE Science Communicator Mike Stone describes how the Kudos Trust aims to change that
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Doppler ultrasound uses the changing frequency of sound waves as they are reflected by moving blood cells to give diagnostic information for a range of medical conditions. Science Communicator Mike Stone investigates this interesting application of physics.
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