Waikato University and MBIE launch Science Learning Hub

4 October, 2016

University of Waikato and MBIE launch new-look Science Learning Hub website

The University of Waikato, together with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, will launch the new and improved Science Learning Hub website at an event at Te Papa tonight.

The Science Learning Hub website was initially developed 10 years ago, building on the success of its sister site, the Biotechnology Learning Hub. The aim was to make contemporary New Zealand science research and development more accessible, relevant and visible to school teachers and students.

Thousands of resources have since been produces, featuring all of New Zealand’s universities and Crown Research Institutes (CRIs). The University of Waikato has managed the website since its inception, with support from MBIE and funding currently through the Government’s 2015 Strategic Plan for Science in Society.

Tonight, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Alister Jones and Minister Steven Joyce will officially launch the new-look website in Wellington, which combines resources from the Science Learning Hub and the Biotechnology Learning Hub. The modern, intuitive website design reflects the shifts in web technology and user expectations over the past decade, protecting the significant investment that has seen the ongoing growth and success of the Science Learning Hub.

Professor Jones says MBIE has shown real vision in continuing to fund the website, and he thanks them for their ongoing support.

“Science education continues to be a focus for Government investment, and the University of Waikato is proud of its long history of supporting science education in New Zealand,” he says.

“Projects like this help foster an understanding of the relevance and importance of science in young people. Some will go on to pursue science-related careers, and New Zealand needs that. But we also need citizens to be able to engage in an informed way with global challenges from climate change and resource management to health issues and cybercrime.”

The Science Learning Hub is a national project managed by the University of Waikato’s Wilf Malcolm Institute for Educational Research. It promotes students’ interest an engagement in science by providing contextualised multimedia resources for school teachers and students and the wider community.

The website also provides a link between science research organisations and teachers of science and technology. Significant support is provided to teachers and other users of the website through professional development, social media and an enquiries service.
--

© Scoop Media