Wednesday 20 February 2019 11:16am
The University's new Science Teaching Co-ordinator for Science Academy, Wendy Dunn.
There was no easing into Wendy Dunn’s new role as Science Teaching Co-ordinator for Science Academy (OUASSA) when she welcomed 64 year 13 students and 15 teachers on to campus last month.
Miss Dunn took up her new role just in time for the first of two week-long camps, involving students and teachers from around New Zealand who have a passion for science and are attending rural, small or low decile schools.
OUASSA aims to support and enhance students to achieve well in their final year at school and prepare them for the transition to tertiary study.
"Some of these kids are really bright and something like quantum physics made their eyes light up. For the majority they walk away feeling energised and enthused about science."
Miss Dunn moved into her new role after 15 years’ teaching biology at Otago Girls' High School, attracted by the opportunity to be inspired by and share the science going on at the University with students and colleagues.
She says the week was a tailored and unique experience for the students, who were housed at Arana College, and participated in a full-on week of science seminars, labs and science communication workshops.
“Some of these kids are really bright and something like quantum physics made their eyes light up,” Miss Dunn says. “For the majority they walk away feeling energised and enthused about science.”
Chemistry Senior Lecturer Dr Christina McGraw presented to the students on the subject of ocean acidification.
She says raising the issue with the cohort is important, not only because it is something they will have to deal with in the future, but because the subject can be practically applied.
“The chemistry behind ocean acidification is straightforward and so it’s also a good way to illustrate what we can do with chemistry which makes it easy for a high school project,” Dr McGraw says.
Fifteen teachers also attended the camp with a programme of different activities and learning opportunities to take back to their classrooms.
“Teachers from these schools generally have fewer resources and opportunities for professional development which is really hard, so it was great to give them the chance to interact with not only scientists but like-minded colleagues,” Miss Dunn says.
Stratford High School teacher Richard Armond first attended Science Academy in 2011 and alternates with a work colleague to attend biannually.
"Teachers from these schools generally have fewer resources and opportunities for professional development which is really hard, so it was great to give them the chance to interact with not only scientists but like-minded colleagues."
He keeps returning to keep up with the latest technology and cutting edge research such as Otago’s Genetics programme and the kits it has available for the classroom, he says.
“The teachers also shared ideas with each other on science curriculum, standards and assessments which they found really beneficial,” Miss Dunn says.
“As a teacher myself, I know there is never enough time for that during term time.”
This year’s Science Academy also welcomed Linh Nguyen from Perth’s University of Western Australia as the first exchange student to visit Otago on the Matariki Network of Universities exchange programme.
With a marketing background, Linh gathered and created useful video interview content on the programme’s activities, which will be credited towards the Master’s degree she is currently studying.
The same group of students and teachers who attended OUASSA in January also return to Otago for their winter science camp in July and between now and then will be working on science communications projects (films, talks, podcasts, museum displays) which will be showcased to a public audience at the end of the winter camp.
“The students quickly made connections with kindred spirits and reinforced their niche in science,” Miss Dunn says. “I’m looking forward to seeing how their interest and skills have developed when I see everyone again in July.”
Students attending the first of two week-long Science Academy (OUASSA) camps, with Director Steve Broni (bottom right) and Science Teaching Co-ordinator Wendy Dunn (bottom left).