South Auckland primary schools issue science challenge!
August 2016

Five South Auckland primary schools are taking part in a Junior Science Challenge this Friday 12th August, a joint initiative of AUT University’s Pacific Advancement team and SouthSci, the Participatory Science Platform, South Auckland pilot.

AUT student mentors are working with groups of about 5 students each for a class in each of Rowendale, Dawson, Clendon Park, Sutton Park, Bairds Mainfreight and Rongomai schools.
The students have been challenged to carry out a scientific investigation, report their results and critique an AUT student’s efforts in repeating the experiment in under 2 hours.

Nick Pattison, STEM Director at Rongomai and mastermind behind the idea, explains “my students were disappointed they weren’t old enough to take part in the National Science Fair, so we decided to issue a similar-type challenge to primary schools in the area, in the same spirit”.

The experiment the students will be carrying out with the aid of the AUT mentors is derived from a successful Landcare Research citizen science project funded under the Nation of Curious Minds initiative.

Pattison elaborates “each group has a vacuum, a meter square quadrant and a microscope, and needs to estimate the number of dust mites in the classroom carpet. The number of dust mites tells us about the health of the environment”.

Walter Fraser, AUT’s Head of Pacific Advancement and Associate Head of its South Campus says “we always welcome opportunities that have the potential to develop leadership skills in our graduates; create more interest in Science and to also give back to our local South Auckland community – this Challenge is a great opportunity for all three”.

Sarah Morgan, project manager of SouthSci explains their involvement “we’ve just funded 8 new participatory science projects in South Auckland, and we’re keen to grow the interest and capability to create many more: starting with the juniors and involving the teachers in a small-scale research project is a perfect start”.

The SouthSci-AUT Junior Science Challenge will be taking place on Friday 12th August from 11:30am to 1pm.

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