Week 15 - Drone mapping, Te Ao Marama opening, and visits

This is my first full week back at the University without disruption for a while, and it has been full of exciting opportunities.

Firstly we went to Rotorua for the day to take some drone footage of the site at Tikitere with Brendan Hall who is one of the school of environment surveyors. While he was setting up the drone points I went with Ayrton (PhD) and Yuli (Masters) to do pH and temperature tests of the hot pools in the area and to take water samples. This was in preparation for our trip to White Island where we will have only an hour to gather what we need.

I really enjoyed learning about the drone and it's purpose/usefulness. This imagery is amazing! I will add that to this post once it is processed. I also learnt how to calibrate a pH testing machine using three different vials that had liquid of a particular pH in it.

Again I was able to witness real scientists engaging in all areas of the Nature of Science and the Science Capabilities.

On Tuesday I was very lucky to participate in the opening of Te Ao Marama a new multidisciplinary research center based in the University of Auckland. This research center will focus on the inquiry into life, linking physics, philosophy, earth science and maori knowledge. It was a really exciting day, I was able to meet some wonderful people who were all interested in outreach to the wider community. Many of whom gave me wonderful ideas for a unit I'm planning for 2018! I look forward to being part of this center and what it can offer our students. Of note were the members of SMART (Society of Maori Astronomy Research and Traditions). All very lovely men who were interested to hear my learning journey in Matauranga Maori recently. I am keen to stay in touch so that my students learning experience can be enriched with the Maori knowledge as well.

I also had a lovely visit from three other STLP participant teachers, Alex, Jazz and Ashika. They came to the University of Auckland and met Kathy. We went up to the Rock Room and Kathy let them look at her rock collection. There was a lot of discussion around how Geology is left out of our schooling system which means that the Universities are finding it difficult to maintain student numbers in earth sciences. The girls were able to see why I have been so inspired by being hosted in this department, especially with Kathy as my host.

All in all it has been a wonderful and engaging week seeing science in action. The elements of the Nature of Science and the capabilities are woven so seamlessly into everything I have witnessed that it is second nature. I desire that for my students.