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Awhina Outreach Programme

Contents

• Science Wananga creates future Maori Scientists
• Following Their Dreams
• Mentoring Youth in the Name of Science
• Centre of Research Excellence supports Awhina Outreach

Science Wānanga creates future Maori scientists

Can a science wānanga help to increase the number of Māori scientists, architects and engineers?  Comments from the inaugural Te Wānanga Pūtaiao at Pukemokimoki Marae in Napier suggest that taking science from the laboratory to the marae can inspire new generations of Māori scientists.

 
Physics demonstration.

“I never used to like science but now I do” - Primary-School aged participant

“I thought science was boring, but this wānanga has made me think its FUN”. 
- High-School aged participant.

Pukemokimoki Marae and Victoria University’s Science Faculty joined together to host Te Wānanga Pūtaiao.  This successful event is an extension of the Science Faculty’s Āwhina outreach programme.  The central focus of Āwhina is Māori and Pacific development, which was also the central theme of Te Wānanga Pūtaiao.  The aim of this particular wānanga was to encourage participation and achievement among Māori rangatahi and tamariki in science.  Excitement for science was generated by concentrating on themes that were relevant to Māori communities including sessions on DNA/Whakapapa and the Marine Environment. 

Āwhina alumni Dr. Adele Whyte (Ngāti Kahungunu) led this project with the help of  several past and present Āwhina mentors; Wesley Lagolago (Samoan), Cassidy Moeke (Ngāti Porou), Shiro Nippert (Tuhoe), Matt Viliamu (Samoan).  Āwhina mentors formed a vital part of the team, contributing to the DNA extractions and the smooth-running of the whole programme. Liz Richardson (Architecture & Design, Science & Engineering Deputy Dean, Equity) and Te Taite Cooper (Te Pou Ārahi Māori, Ngāti Kahungunu) also supported this project.

Drs Howard Lukefahr (Physics) and Ocean Mercier (Te Kawa a Maui, Ngāti Porou) ran interactive physics demonstrations which included liquid nitrogen, superconductors, light waves and sound waves. Pupils explored how the human eye works by investigating optical illusions and computer imaging technology.

Centrifugal forces. Floating ping-pong ball – Mean!

Drs Hilary Miller (Allan Wilson Centre - AWC), Kristina Ramstad (AWC), and Adele Whyte (Centre for Marine Environmental & Economic Research – CMEER)designed and taught the genetics portion of the wānanga. This allowed everyone to see and extract DNA from everyday food items, including strawberries, using household chemicals.

Āwhina mentor Cassidy Moeke   Another successful DNA extraction!
and tamaiti extracting DNA.

Drs James Bell (CMEER), Jonathan Gardner (CMEER) and Adele Whyte (CMEER) gave presentations and led discussions about protecting and enhancing the marine environment. 

Using DNA fingerprinting to determine kakapo paternity

Support from whānau is vital to encourage more Māori youth to seek careers in science and technology.   For this reason, the wananga set out to attract all age groups. Participants' ages ranged from 5 to 75 years old and everyone enjoyed the wide range of activities, including what could have been the world’s first DNA extraction on a marae!

The whare was busier than your average DNA laboratory!

The project was also an education for the scientists as Kaumatua and Kuia also contributed their knowledge to this wānanga.  In many instances, the observations of our tūpuna highlighted obvious parallels between Māori oral tradition and science.  This reinforces the idea that Māori have been scientists for many years.  If tamariki can continue on this rich tradition of seeking knowledge, incorporating the knowledge of their ancestors with technical advances, then the scientific future of Aotearoa is in good hands.

Te Whānau o Pukemokimoki Marae, Jan 2008

Acknowledgements:  We would like to acknowledge the financial support of Te Puni Kōkiri.  Te Puni Kōkiri staff members also supported this event by attending the wānanga.   Special thanks to Joinella Maihi-Carroll who was the liaison person at Pukemokimoki for this event.

Following Their Dreams

Te Ropu Awhina Putaiao mentors have played a critical role since 2000 in increasing the numbers of Maori and Pacific pupils from local, low decile secondary schools undertaking science and technology degrees. Cassidy and Tammy were keen to speak about their experiences at Victoria University when their mentors Pia (MSc, Computer Science, FRST Tuapapa Putaiao Maori Fellow) and Marina (PhD, Biological Sciences) caught up with them recently.

Pia (Awhina mentor), Cassidy (Wainuiomata), Marina (Awhina mentor), and Tammy (Wainuiomata).

Cassidy:
The Awhina Outreach programme helped me a lot in making my decision to under take a Bachelor in Biomedical Science. If it wasn't for the experiments and the mentors, then I might have decided to study only commerce or possibly not attend university at all. I would recommend this programme to other students on the basis that it gave me an insight into the science world, helped me choose my desired speciality, and allowed me to meet many Maori and Pacific that were succeeding in science and technology at university.

Tammy:
I am a first year student at Victoria University. I was involved in the Awhina Outreach programme in 2003 and 2004 which was offered to me as a 6th and 7th former at Wainuiomata High.

What I really enjoyed about this programme is that the students/mentors actually had a genuine interest in our studies and wanted to help us do well at school. It was also a lot of fun coming into the uni and having hands on experience in a lab. It wasn?t until I came to uni as an enrolled student that I really appreciated the time they gave to us. Just being a little more familiar with the place than everyone else and knowing senior students to turn to for help was a great start.

I have met my Awhina mentor and look forward to working together. I'm studying to become a nutritionist. My long term goal is to be a dietician.

Mentoring Youth in the Name of Science

How would you describe a scientist...a dorky balding man with horn-rimmed glasses held together by tape, and the token pocket protector? You might be surprised to find out that scientists are just like you and me. They like to go out on weekends, play sport, drink beer, and...oh yeah...occasionally make ground-breaking discoveries.

These scientific stereotypes are exactly what the Awhina Outreach strives to change in the eyes of students of Maori and Pacific descent at local low decile secondary schools. Awhina Outreach is designed to capture the scientific interest of our youth by making experiences and university minds from a broad range of science backgrounds available to them. As part of this programme, Vic science students and supporting staff members provide mentor services to students at low decile schools. The launch of Awhina Outreach last Thursday evening at Wainuiomata High School marked the extension of the past two year's work in Porirua. It was the first chance for staff and postgraduate mentors to meet their year 12 mentees and parents.

Professor Paul Callaghan from the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, stressed the importance of Maori and Pacific pupils seeing tertiary study in science as a viable option. Awhina Kaumatua and CEO of the Maori Education Trust, Doug Hauraki, emphasised the importance of breaking the cycle of Maori and Pacific underachievement in secondary education. Pupils and their mentors discussed what they hoped to see the programme achieve.

Mentors and secondary students check out a Victoria laboratory. Looking on while postgraduate mentor Marina carries out an experiment was (from left): Dr Paul Teesdale-Spittle (Victoria staff mentor), Tui Alailefaleula (Wainuiomata), Kevin (Awhina mentor), Luke Schwamm (Wainuiomata), Pia (Awhina mentor), Cassidy (Wainuiomata) and Terri (Wainuiomata).

The evening was a great success with everyone involved being keen to get started. Mentor, Marina, commented: "I want people to be as passionate about science as I am. I have always found science to be exciting and I want to share that with others." "These are smart kids," says mentor Kevin. "They want to learn and I want to help - that's a good combination." Pupils and parents are also enthusiastic. Wainuiomata pupil, Nick, summed it up when he said Awhina Outreach is "a great opportunity". Although pupils and mentors have only known each other for a short time, they have already made the first steps toward forming good working relationships.

The opportunities in science and technology are many and varied, paving the way to a brighter future for everyone. It is imperative that we get everybody involved, particular ly our youth who are the future of New Zealand. The expertise within Awhina Outreach participants, support from mentors and parents combined with the opportunities available in science is a recipe for success. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out! (Contributed by Awhina Mentors).

Centre of Research Excellence supports Awhina Outreach

Professor Paul Callaghan with delighted Awhina outreach supporters and participants.

Porirua College staff, pupils and their whanau, mentors and Victoria staff gathered at the school to launch the Awhina Outreach mentoring for 2003.

Teachers, pupils and parents relayed their positive experiences of last year's mentoring and stressed their overwhelming support for the continuation of this hugely successful initiative made possible by the financial support of the MacDiarmid Institute.

Speaking on behalf of the Faculties of Science and Architecture and Design, Paul Callaghan (Alan MacDiarmid Professor of Physics) told the gathering. "This venture is brilliant. The use of mentors who can act as role models is the most effective way of transforming educational opportunities for young people. Our Maori and Pacific students are a living example of educational success. By giving their time in this way, they help others follow the pathway they have found. The MacDiarmid Institute is delighted to support the Awhina programme because we want to help build pathways to science for all New Zealanders."