participatory science platform -...

PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORMTARANAKI UPDATE 2019

CURIOUS MINDS IS A GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE JOINTLY LED BY THE MINISTRY OF BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER’S CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISOR

HE HIHIRI I TE MAHARA

PEOPLE ENGAGED IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

CONTENTS Fish Food and Fringes 6Sustainable Energy Generation 6Our Mountain our Volcano 6Purangi Pekapeka 7Seachange Survey 7Finding Little Blue 7Trashformers 8Bug Alert! 9Kimihia Kermit 10Wi-DemystiFied 11Soil Fertility and Health Trials 12

DIFFERENT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS

CURIOUS MINDSPARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM AT A GLANCE

PROJECTS FUNDED

39

SCHOOLS INVOLVED IN LOCAL RESEARCH

43 >1000

COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE COLLABORATED WITH

70

Introduction 2

Criteria 3

Project Case Studies 4Te Āhua o Ngā Kūrei 4Ngamatapouri School River Monitoring Project 5Healthy Living Soil 6I Whio that I Could Live Here 6

$680,000 DISTRIBUTED IN TARANAKI

Ngā Kaitiaki o Ngā Motu 12Project Litter: Tapuae Trash Trackers 12Catmap 13Dotterel Defenders 14Toko School Distillation Investigation 15A Pesky Problem – Te Namu Hakirara 15Ko Nga Kowhitiwhiti 16Pest Trapping in the Makahu Valley 16Schoolyard Blues 17South Taranaki Project Earth 17Rev It 18

CAPOW! Curious About Processing Organic Waste 18Stone vs. Metal: the Motunui panels revealed 19Maru Wai Matara 20Full Steam ahead! 20Project Reef Life – South Taranaki 21Project Hotspot 22Te Moeone – Growing for the Future 23Waitara Kaimoana Survey 23Project Ultra – Pekapeka in Purangi 24Kiwi Presence in Egmont National Park 24For More Information 25

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

DISCIPLINES UNDER INVESTIGATION

16

N

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITIES ENGAGED IN PARTICIPATORY

SCIENCE PROJECTS

INTRODUCTION

Science and technology are critical for enhancing living standards through economic growth and improving social and environmental outcomes. Today, science is

embedded in the many decisions policy makers, business, individuals and societies must make. Societies with strong ‘science capital’ sustain more innovative economies and have a greater awareness of both the opportunities and limits of science in development and wellbeing. Science is central to the many global challenges we face (from environmental challenges to an aging and increasingly urban population, for instance).

The Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform (PSP) is designed to encourage communities, particularly young people, educators and scientists to work together on collaborative science projects so that people become more enthused and informed about the role science plays in their lives.

The emphasis on collaboration provides educational opportunity for both sides of the project partnership. Community groups benefit from the expertise and experience of their science and technology sector partners, while the science and technology experts benefit from the local knowledge and cultural understanding of the community groups.

Venture Taranaki is leading the Participatory Science Platform in Taranaki, funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Either a community group or science sector based partner may apply to Venture Taranaki for funding to support their research project. Any type of community group is able to apply – these may include students, schools, kura, community-based organisations, businesses or Māori organisations and collectives.

“Participatory science is a way of doing scientific research where community volunteers, including schools and kura, can be meaningfully involved at all stages of research projects in collaboration with scientists.

The Participatory Science Platform (PSP), started in 2015, forms part of the Government’s national strategic plan for Science in Society, A Nation of Curious Minds – He Whenua Hihiri I Te Mahara (the Plan).

The Plan aims to encourage and enable better engagement with science and technology across New Zealand. The projects funded to date in the three regions (Taranaki, Otago and South Auckland) are diverse, but their commonality is that they are building lasting science engagement, relationships and networks between the community, education sector and the science sector.

The opportunity to address locally relevant topics using science and technology is empowering communities and providing important and interesting in-context learning opportunities for young and old.” – Dr. Victoria Metcalf, National Coordinator of the Participatory Science Platform.

2

CURIOUS MINDS

CRITERIA

LOCALLY RELEVANT

Will involve community members in research that is engaging and

locally relevant and at least in part be driven by community-based

champions.

SCIENTIFICALLY ROBUST

The project will tackle a substantive scientific question in active

partnership with a scientist or technology expert.

EDUCATIONALLY VALUABLE

Offer enduring educational value and two-way learning opportunities

for those involved.

PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PROJECTS MUST BE:

Since 2015 thirty nine projects have been funded in Taranaki through the Curious Minds PSP. Projects to date have focussed on a wide variety of science and technology disciplines from ecology to electric vehicle engineering. Their stories feature on the following pages.

3

PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2019

In 2019 Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga will be carrying out a comprehensive estuarine assessment in the Urenui and Mimitangiatua

estuaries.

This study aims to collect a baseline of information about the current health of these estuaries that will include looking at sedimentation, mahinga kai and other Taonga species and the impact of any pest species present.

The project team also want to establish what current and future threats may impact on the health of these important coastal areas.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Mutunga are doing this work with support from the Taranaki Regional Council and the Clifton Community Board and will be working with students from Uruti, Mimi and Urenui Schools.

TE A-HUA O NGA- KU-REI

2019

PROJECT CASE STUDIES

4

CURIOUS MINDS

The Ngamatapouri School Waitotara River Monitoring Project enables primary school students from a tiny, isolated rural school the opportunity to work with

scientists and integrate scientific technology to investigate and monitor the changes of the Waitotara River over the course of a year.

Flooding of the river is a regular hazard for valley residents. Often the road is impassable, blocking access to the main road and thereby isolating the Ngamatapouri community. Visual data is

NGAMATAPOURI SCHOOL WAITOTARA RIVER MONITORING PROJECT

being collected by students through photos taken by a drone from three selected locations at fortnightly intervals to illustrate seasonal changes of the river. Students then use a Stream Health Monitoring Assessment Kit (SHMAK) to gather information on water clarity, conductivity, PH levels and temperature. Students also intend to design, build and trial a device to remotely monitor river levels to provide early warning of floods to the school and to make additional devices for their own homes and others in their community.

20195


HEALTHY LIVING SOILThe Healthy Living Soil project is a collaborative initiative run by Organic Farm NZ (Taranaki/Whanganui) that will emphasise the benefits of incorporating a scientific approach to the way we grow our food. The participants in the project; local small-scale growers, community groups and Landbased Training horticulture students, will gain a better understanding of the characteristics of their soils and what they can do to grow healthy living soil to enable optimal food production using biological farming practices. Food and Food Science is a key focus for the economic development of the Taranaki region. With the outcomes of the Healthy Living Soil Project we hope to encourage more growers and gardeners to incorporate science in their growing journey.

I WHIO THAT I COULD LIVE HEREI Whio that I could live here is a collaboration between Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust, Manaia and Auroa Primary Schools, Ngāti Tū and Ngāti Haua hapū, Taranaki Mounga, Taranaki Regional Council and Fish and Game. The project is a weaving of mātauranga (knowledge, wisdom, understanding, skill) and Western science and is focused on the hauora (health, vigour) and wairua (spirit, soul) of the Kaupokonui River. The investigation will explore, measure and understand the health of the Kaupokonui River along the upper, middle and lower reaches, spanning both the river’s cultural and ecological significance, and explore ways to restore the river to a standard that is fit for our native taonga, the Whio.

FISH FOOD AND FRINGES: PARTICIPATORY INVERTEBRATE MONITORING FOR RIPARIAN MARGINSMAIN Trust will partner with Rotokare Scenic Reserve, Hawera High School, Ngaere School and Rawhitiroa School to assess the restoration work on Taranaki’s riparian margins and in wetland ecosystems. Students will monitor two sites for invertebrates and vegetation, and record environmental factors with the assistance from ‘Bright Sparks’, the technology training organisation. The project will generate biodiversity records to measure changes over time, an important factor in gauging the success of habitat restoration. Students will work alongside restoration practitioners and learn about the important work that is being done to restore these important sites.

2019SUSTAINABLE ENERGY GENERATION FOR USE IN ELECTRIC VEHICLESThe New Plymouth Girls High School Sustainable energy generation for use in electric vehicles project is a collaborative pilot project involving students, parents, teachers and local communities to investigate innovative and environmentally sustainable energy generation for use in electric vehicles and evaluate the success of these methods in a school-based setting which can be used to inform any future full-scale implementation in the Tohonohono Marae situated in the school grounds.

OUR MOUNTAIN OUR VOLCANOIn 2019 local volcanologist Cynthia Werner and Te Kotahitanga o Te Atiawa Trust will be carrying out spring water and gas sampling on mineral springs on the flanks of Maunga Taranaki for the first time since the 1980s. These springs hold vital clues to the current state of activity of the volcano.

This study aims to collect baseline information about the amount of volcanic carbon band sulfur being emitted by such features and relate these data to the amount of magma residing beneath the volcano. The project also aims to share knowledge amongst iwi members to raise awareness both of the current state of activity of the volcano and the sacred nature of these springs.

The research from this project has direct societal importance for assessing the hazard of this understudied volcano. The findings will be important for risk assessments and planning by the Civil Defense, the Taranaki Regional and District Councils, the Department of Conservation, and for all people living in the Taranaki region.

6

CURIOUS MINDS

PURANGI PEKAPEKAIn 2019 Experience Pūrangi will be undertaking a study of the critically endangered long-tail bat to define the home territory it occupies within Pūrangi, East Taranaki.

The study will expand on previous research to collect information about the presence and location of Pekapeka in the Pouiatoa Conservation Estate. Data will be collected and analysed to understand the distribution of the long tail bat population. This information will be used to plot known bat presence and add to the Taranaki map to identify presence and gaps. A secondary research question will be to test whether increased predator control activity in 1,000 hectares of our project area has had an influence on the bat population.

Experience Pūrangi is leading this study with support from Curious Minds and working with students from Inglewood High School, representatives from DOC, Taranaki Regional Council and long tail bat specialists.

SEACHANGE SURVEYResidents of the coastal region between Fort St George and Ahu Ahu road have expressed a need for a scientific survey of the local paua reefs.

In response, the Seachange Survey project was set up to create a community survey method, in conjunction with local schools and with input from residents, to monitor the health and distribution of paua and other kaimoana species.

During the course of the project, the Seachange Survey method will be used to assess the current state of paua on Ahu Ahu and Tapuae reef, their average size, their habitat and food source and the effect of the “no take” rules at Tapuae Marine Reserve.

This unique project is a collaboration between local residents, Ngā Māhanga a Tairi Hapu, scientists, community groups and education partners and will lead to the creation of a methodology and resources which can be widely used by schools and communities throughout Taranaki.

Little blue penguins can live under baches, houses, and rocks. They are protected under the Wildlife Act. It is vital that we find out more about the little blue penguins

and how successful they are at raising chicks so that we can actively protect them. The Finding Little Blue project worked with the Department of Conservation, Iwi, Port Taranaki, TRC, coastal camp grounds, landowners, local researchers, NatureWatch NZ and MAIN Trust NZ.

Two schools, Puketapu and Devon Intermediate, were involved in identifying burrow areas and exploring potential issues within the penguin habitats. Ideas and information from the students and community contributed towards the mapping of penguin burrows. The students brainstormed potential monitoring methods, such as the use of wireless monitoring technology to follow the lives of penguins through the year.

FINDING LITTLE BLUE

2018

7


As a coastal region, Taranaki is impacted by the adverse effects that plastics are having in our oceans and on our beaches. Upcycle Taranaki’s youth project

Trashformers focuses on keeping our beaches clean through a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) project to identify alternative uses for degraded (weathered and aged) plastics. Local youth have identified the need for a more closed-loop system. Instead of beach clean-ups being performed and all the rubbish put into landfill, there has been a demand for finding alternative uses for that degraded beach plastic.

Trashformers has a collaborative approach engaging the community throughout the process with beach clean ups, radio interviews and locals (households and businesses) collecting HDPE #2 bottle lids. These items are recyclable but in Taranaki we don’t have the infrastructure to process small plastics like bottle lids so they end up in landfill. Specialists in the STEM fields have

TRASHFORMERSbeen educating the youth throughout the process; everything from mathematics and engineering, to chemistry testing plastics, and finally applied physics to the upcycled bricks.

The youth alongside Falcon Engineering have been fabricating two machines. One to shred plastics, and an extruder machine to melt and mould plastics into a block that will then be strength tested. The idea is to scientifically prove if degraded beach plastics is as strong as “newer” plastics through a series of applied physics tests. This process will be repeated with newer plastics and varieties of recyclables to compare the strength and suitability as a durable raw material for product development. Once we have answered the question “can we use degraded plastics as a raw material” we will look at a range of products that the machines can make, market, and sell. The project was shared with the community at Plastic Free July 2019. Follow the Trashformers project through Upcycle Taranaki on Facebook and Instagram.

20188

CURIOUS MINDS

In 2017 the East Taranaki Environment Trust (Experience Purangi) worked with the Taranaki Regional Council and Kaimata School to initiate a wetland monitoring project at

Purangi.

Previous work done by the Experience Purangi team found that one of their wetlands was under the flight path of a long tail bat population. Experience Purangi and Kaimata School students began implementing a restoration plan prepared by the TRC at the Purangi wetland. To allow monitoring of restoration success and

BUG ALERT!maturation of the wetland the Bug ALERT project was established to collect baseline data on biodiversity and abundance of wetland flora and fauna.

In 2018 the work was continued by Egmont Village and Ratapiko Schools. Students collected data on invertebrate abundance in relation to vegetation biomass. Using the fixed monitoring points that Kaimata School established the schools were able to investigate temporal changes to biodiversity and vegetation.

20189


Kimihia Kermit is an investigation into the whereabouts, the type and the number of frogs that can be found in North Taranaki. The project, run by Ngāti Mutunga,

worked with Urenui, Uruti, and Mimi Schools. Students and the wider community were educated about frog habitat, then ran a community survey to gather information on frog distribution in North Taranaki. This information was used to target the next stage of the project which was a scientific survey of the

KIMIHIA KERMITfrog population led by Patrick Stewart of Soundcounts. This included evening surveys recording frog calls and installing listening devices to digitally record the frogs.

The Green Golden Bell Frog was previously thought to have a southern limit of Mokau, but results from this project would suggest that they can be found at least 20km further south than that.

201810

CURIOUS MINDS

The Wi-DemystiFied project (formerly Project Wi-Finding) engaged high school students in an investigation into the wireless connectivity issues apparent in Taranaki.

Massey University staff supported by Primo Wireless worked with the students to analyse the wireless connectivity issues around New Plymouth Boys’ High School using this as a context to illustrate the issues faced across the region.

WI-DEMYSTIFIED: SOLVING TARANAKI’S CONNECTIVITY PROBLEMS

The most recent iteration of the project educated and trained students on the methods used to analyse the quality of connectivity (signal strength and interference) at a given location. Students then analysed wireless connectivity and developed a plan to improve the quality of the network.

201811


SOIL FERTILITY AND HEALTH TRIALSMidhirst School wants to develop an organic orchard as a teaching / learning tool (Science, Food Technology, Health etc). In order to be successful, the soil needs to be well prepared so that the fruit trees will grow and produce well. The project will be working closely with Soil Foodweb to investigate the composition and quality of soil at Midhirst School. Students will then trial different soil treatment methods appropriate for improving soil for fruit tree growing. Given that Midhirst School largely draws its pupils from a farming community, there is also interest in the outcome of this investigation from parents of children at the school.

NGĀ KAITIAKI O NGĀ MOTUNgā Kaitiaki o Ngā Motu (Guardians of the Islands) – Is a collaborative initiative underpinned by a holistic and interconnected, Maori world view that brings together hapū, marae, kura, schools, and community groups to build awareness and encourage participation in kaitiakitanga, specifically the characterisation and connectivity of taonga species inside and outside Tapuae Marine Reserve and Ngā Motu/Sugar Loaf Islands Marine Protected Area (SLIMPA), and benthic structures further offshore.

PROJECT LITTER: TAPUAE TRASH TRACKERSThe aim of Project Litter is to gather information on the types of litter, and the origin of litter on the Taranaki coastline, and in particular, in the Tapuae Marine Reserve. Project Litter is a project that had its origins in observations of beach litter by students from the Highlands Intermediate Marine Studies Group in 2016. In 2017 the group came up with the concept of a litter bin to be placed on one of the beaches at Tapuae, solely for the disposal of marine litter found on the shoreline. This also led to questions around the types of litter, and their possible origins – How did it get there? They aim to answer these questions, working together with Waitara High School and the Okato Homeschool Group, and harnessing knowledge and expertise from Taranaki Regional Council, MetOcean Solutions Limited, EnvISionz, Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society and the Department of Conservation.

2018

12

CURIOUS MINDS

Does your cat have a secret life? Is your resident couch potato a creature of the night? Or does your feline friend disappear for days on end without the courtesy

to leave a note? Wild for Taranaki worked with Central and Makahu Schools to investigate what our cats are doing when we aren’t looking.

Sixty-six volunteer cats were fitted with GPS units and tracked for a week at a time. Tracking occurred from August till late November in a variety of environments (urban, semi-urban, rural).

The Tracking Fur Babies project found that the extent to which cats would wander was largely dependent on the personality of the individual cat. One finding would suggest cats prefer to

TRACKING FUR BABIES/CATMAPwalk undercover, sticking close to hedges, fences and canopies and tend to avoid crossing open spaces particularly paddocks. Findings from the project found that cats in rural areas, and those living on larger sections wandered the farthest.

MAIN Trust worked with the Tracking Fur Babies project to turn their GPS data into meaningful maps displaying the movements of cats during both the day and night.

Following on from this study, MAIN Trust established CatMap to work with schools and community participants on how domestic cats are interacting with sensitive natural areas and investigate ways of altering cat behaviour to allow positive outcomes for pet cat welfare and endangered species conservation.

2017/1813


Our local superheroes the Dotterel Defenders have set out on a conservation mission to identify what threats exist to New Zealand dotterel in Taranaki.

The project, led by the Taranaki Conservationists, trained volunteers and ran field investigations at four key dotterel locations along the Taranaki coastline. Despite the wintery weather, the training and field events had strong participation from coastal communities. Participants undertook beach cleans (>250 kg of rubbish collected), litter surveys and used NatureWatch NZ to record footprints and species encountered.

On-going monitoring has included recording the behaviour of the dotterels (142 sightings), monitoring predators (sandy footprint and tracking tunnel monitoring), monitoring vehicle use on beaches and predator trapping (catches include 12 stoats and weasels, 6 hedgehogs and 3 rats in 60 traps).

DOTTEREL DEFENDERS: USING PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE TO INFORM AND IMPLEMENT MANAGEMENT OF ENDANGERED NEW ZEALAND DOTTEREL

Based on the information gained from monitoring, measures have been implemented to better protect the dotterels including roping off nesting areas and setting up predator trapping rosters. Students from Rahotu and Coastal Taranaki Schools have made signs to raise awareness of the dotterels and the threats to them.

Volunteers are continuing predator trapping and monitoring dotterels throughout the breeding season, including monitoring the success of chicks so that breeding productivity can be assessed.

For more information see the Taranaki Conservationists website www.taranakiconservationists.com/dotterel-defenders Or like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/DotterelDefenders/

2017

CURIOUS MINDS

14

You could be forgiven a sideways glance when you hear of the Toko School Distillery. No it is not set up in the staff room to alleviate stressed out teachers. In fact it is

not used to produce alcohol at all. The distillation project is all part of Toko School’s mission to eliminate waste and increase their sustainability.

Ms Fergus and her class set out with the goal of producing their own products such as cleaners, soaps, shampoos, and creams. Their intention is to replace the products currently used at school with more sustainable school-made equivalents. By distilling organic matter for essential oils and hydrosol, the project hopes to utilise what the school grows onsite.

Before they could launch into full scale production, the students needed to first learn how to distil, and then figure out which organic matter would be the most useful for their purpose.

Enter Jim Bennett from Still Valley. With guidance from Jim, Ms Fergus and her students quickly became experts in the art of distillation.

Local scientist and horticulture expert Sue Rine has been helping the students design experiments to test how effective their distillates are as cleaning products.

Toko School intends to run this project into the future allowing all those that pass through the school the opportunity to learn and explore the science of distillation.

TOKO SCHOOL DISTILLATION INVESTIGATION

Nobody likes sandflies or their compatriots the mosquito, but a fantastic outdoor learning area Tane te Wananga at Woodleigh School has prompted a group

of students to do something about this pesky problem.

Insect repellents containing DEET are not an option for Woodleigh’s teachers or students. Ms Rankin and her students had to look elsewhere to stop the biting, and began investigating the efficacy of repellents made from organic material they collected themselves.

The class has their own copperhead still which they have used to make hydrosols and essential oils. With help from their science partner Jim Bennett from Still Valley, the students distilled hydrosols from lavender, eucalyptus, pine, kawakawa, and rosemary.

The project tested the different distillates to see which was the most effective insect repellent, and will also experiment with ground cover to see if laying pine bark (a known insect deterrent) would reduce the amount of bites.

Who knows – we may even see a Woodleigh School branded organic insect repellent hitting the market in the near future – the warmer weather and rise in biting bug life presents a compelling reason to stay tuned to this project.

A PESKY PROBLEM – TE NAMU HAKIRARA

2017

15


How is the use of Taranaki land affecting the streams that flow through them, and does water quality impact on the health of watercress in those waterways? The Ko

Nga Kowhitiwhiti project undertook an investigation into these questions that spanned waterway to dinner table.

As the land use around Waitara changes, and the effects these changes have on water quality becomes better understood, the community is becoming increasingly aware that the health of mahinga kai (places to gather food) is diminishing. Kowhitiwhiti – watercress – is an important hua whenua (naturally grown food) that is collected by Māori, both for ceremonial purposes and as part of a balanced daily diet.

With support from BTW Company environmental scientists, Ōtaraua Hapū members and Waitara High School students investigated four sites where watercress is present and collected. The project took a full suite of water quality measurements and sent watercress samples away to check the levels of metals and bacteria in the plant’s flesh.

The results showed all streams in the area had water unsafe for drinking, and at one of the sites the watercress had bacteria levels above the advisable threshold for human consumption.

The Ko Nga Kowhitiwhiti project is planning to work with an engineer to design a grow-your-own watercress system to offer a safe-to-eat alternative to contaminated watercress sites and supplement those that are in a healthy state.

KO NGA KOWHITIWHITI – WATERCRESS COLLECTION, INSTREAM ECOLOGY, AND EXTERNAL INFLUENCES

Not many schools can say that they have kiwi, long-tail bat, and North Island robin living on their back doorstep, but ever since students at Makahu School

recorded a kiwi call in a patch of bush not far from the school, the students have been hooked on conservation.

Armed with the knowledge that they have some endangered neighbours, the school’s students have been motivated to investigate the distribution of pest species in their valley, and the potential threat they pose to native species.

The budding conservationists built 85 DOC 200 traps, and while deployment was held up by the wetter than usual winter, the traps had caught 9 feral cats and at least 25 rats in the small blocks they are monitoring by the end of November 2017. Using a tracking camera and bait the project recorded possums, rabbits, hedgehogs, and even a hawk which cheekily pinched the bait.

The monitoring of a small area of bush near the school allowed the students to get up close to a North Island robin who made the area his/her home. After a few months that robin had attracted a mate and the two settled down to nest!

Following rounds of trapping the project aims to redeploy recorders to monitor kiwi presence over time.

PEST TRAPPING IN THE MAKAHU VALLEY

2017

16

CURIOUS MINDS

What would happen if our volcano were to erupt? Anyone living in the shadow of Mount Taranaki likes to think it’s nothing but a sleepy giant surrounded

by a lush blanket of bush and grass. But the fertile landscape so crucial to our province’s economy is actually a monument to our volcano’s explosive past.

Hawera High School students worked with Massey University volcanologists to explore our mountain’s volcanic potential. Students took ash deposit samples from various locations around the mountain, and along with other samples provided by Massey University, were able to map the extent of previous eruptions.

Armed with knowledge acquired from the geological record the students ran a number of eruption scenarios and civil defence simulations to understand and better prepare for a real life volcanic event. Students worked in groups representing different sectors of the community to determine what would happen if power and water utilities were unavailable, what to do with the province’s 500,000 dairy cows when an eruption begins, how we would move around when ash covers the roads and brings vehicles to an untimely halt, and other useful questions.

While solutions posed by students ranged from practical ideas to those better contained in a science fiction novel, the final message is clear: acknowledge the threat and be prepared.

https://www.facebook.com/southtaranakiprojectearth/

SOUTH TARANAKI PROJECT EARTH

Massey University in collaboration with Fonterra are putting blue cheese on the high school menu. The Schoolyard Blues project aims to engage Taranaki

students in the science of cheese making, and along the way create a blue cheese that is more attractive to a young audience.

The first and most important step in any cheese-related endeavour is to sample the cheese you intend to create: very few of the Hawera High School students involved in the Schoolyard Blues project for 2017 had ever tried blue cheese, let alone made it. Cue Fonterra cheese maker Cathy Lang, who guided students through two days of meticulous stirring, gentle heating, rennet adding, curd cutting, whey draining, basket filling, cheese flipping, surface salting, and finally some tactical piercing to create a selection of blue cheeses.

Between cheese making steps, students had Massey University food scientist Alistair Carr lead them through small experiments and delight them with dairy related facts.

Each group of students made a control cheese and one that varied from the recipe in either the way it was salted, or the way it was pierced. After 5 weeks maturation, the project culminated in a tasting event where students and the community were invited to try the creations – the variation in cheeses was remarkable despite all being made with the same recipe under the same conditions.

Guest judges rated the cheeses on appearance, form, flavour, texture, and odour, and while the judges were very impressed, most of the students still need a bit of convincing before blues hit their cheeseboards. While the project may not have created many blue cheese converts yet, it has given the students an insight into the exciting opportunities in food science.

The Schoolyard Blues project continued in 2018 working with students at Stratford High School.

SCHOOLYARD BLUES: TARANAKI SCHOOL CHEESEMAKING PROJECT

2017

17


Students from New Plymouth Boys’ High School have designed, built and retro-fitted an electric engine to an existing vehicle (Toyota MR2) with the intention of

testing its performance against a petrol engine counterpart. The comparison will involve measuring; energy used/km, cost/km, and theoretical range and performance characteristics of each. Students will then be able to show which system is the most cost efficient to run when comparing the cost of fuel and electricity energy equivalents.

This project is being run in partnership with Falcon Engineering as part of the “What If?” workshop. The workshop provides a work space and mentoring environment to students interested in engineering.

Project REV IT plan to further investigate the potential of electric vehicles in agriculture, particularly four-wheeled motorbikes.

https://www.facebook.com/579581325545070/photos/pcb.586647528171783/586647448171791/?type=3&theater

REV IT

Stratford Primary School and Matapu School are taking responsibility for their organic waste. Students conducted audits to identify and measure the levels of

organic waste coming through their schools.

With support from science partner John Coplestone of Industrial Chemistry Services, students: explored the definition of sustainability and how this relates to their school environments; examined organic waste streams looking at their content and volume; examined existing soil structure and chemistry at their school sites; researched and trialled five systems of managing this waste on-site, investigated the processes that underpin each system, investigated the necessary inputs and variables that impact their performance; examined outputs from each system to identify whether they could be used within the school environment and what impact they may have on soil health; evaluated any trade-offs e.g. volume processed vs. quality of end output; developed a scientifically robust investigation into which composting system grew the healthiest vegetables using trial and control plots; produced compost for use on the school vegetable patches.

Students also undertook field trips to visit their peers at each school and share and compare findings between a large urban and a small rural school.

The project culminated in a showcase event where students shared their findings with the community.

CAPOW! CURIOUS ABOUT PROCESSING ORGANIC WASTE

2017

18

CURIOUS MINDS

2016

For over 100 years anthropologists, ethnologists, and wood carvers have been debating if it is possible to tell whether a Māori carving has been done from stone or

metal tools. The recent repatriation of the Motunui epa to Taranaki has revived debate around whether or not they were carved with stone or metal tools. The Stone vs. Metal project was designed to try and replicate carved components of the Motunui panels using nephrite and metal chisels carried out on ‘green’ totara (favoured timber types in Taranaki).

The project worked with carvers, schools and nephrite specialists to examine the use of stone and metal carving tools. The questions posed were: are carvers able to achieve the same quality of workmanship with stone and metal tools – which were used to carve the Motunui epa? What does this mean for other carvings in New Zealand?

This project was led by Puke Ariki and involved students from Manukorihi Intermediate, local master carvers and science partner Dr Russell Beck (NZ’s foremost expert in nephrite). Students explored the properties of traditional pounamu carving tools and compared these with their metal counterparts. The project culminated in a two-day workshop that saw master carvers using traditional pounamu tools to replicate the designs seen on the Motunui pataka panels. This project provided a good blend of science, history and culture – using local taonga as a learning platform.

Story from Stuff on workshop: http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/86518455/carving-experiment-designed-to-shine-light-on-what-makes-motunui-panels-so-unique

STONE VS. METAL: THE MOTUNUI PANELS REVEALED – LED BY PUKE ARIKI

19


Students from Opunake Primary School explored the feasibility of taking one of their standalone classrooms “off-grid” for its energy needs. The school undertook its

own research into the energy consumption of the building as well as the weather conditions present on-site. Students had the opportunity to visit off-grid properties, and a School Gen school in Wellington, as well as meet with a representative from Meridian Energy. Science Partner Michael Lawley of EcoInnovation Ltd provided advice and learning on renewable energy alternatives including how photovoltaic cells work in solar panels.

While investigating a wide range of renewable energy alternatives for their school the students were proactive in taking on challenges such as building their own solar models and solar ovens. The students also created a wide range of instructional videos during their investigations. Open days were utilised to share their work with parents and the local community.

After visiting Clifton Terrace School in Wellington (School Gen school), Opunake School students are keen to do more research into how they can make their school more environmentally friendly.

FULL STEAM AHEAD!

Led by Te Whenua Tomuri Trust this project worked with TDHB, marae and schools to understand cultural and scientific indicators of river health. This included water

quality, plant and animal life with community representatives being trained in science methodology to examine these variables. Karl Russell from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu helped participants understand the different elements of cultural health monitoring

Community groups involved in this project were already monitoring the health of their local awa and this project sought to extend this work to understand:

• How safe is the water for swimming?

• How healthy and safe are the fish for eating?

• How healthy and safe are water plants for eating?

• How healthy is the ecosystem from a cultural perspective?

Participants extended their leaning of how to use scientific tools, assess things from an ecological perspective and gain understanding of how communities can work with sectors such as farmers, scientists, iwi and local government to improve these ecosystems. Trialling the new methods added a cultural, economic and recreational element to freshwater monitoring.

MARU WAI MATARA

2016

20

CURIOUS MINDS

What makes the subtidal reefs of Taranaki unique? The South Taranaki Underwater Club is leading a project to answer this question by exploring and

documenting the marine life present on a reef off the coast of Patea. Marine scientists are helping community members undertake a range of survey methods, including benthic surveys (looking at organisms living on the reef e.g. anemones), hook and line surveys (predatory fish), collection of plankton, secchi disk (water transparency), and the use of a hydrophone (to record the underwater soundscape). A highlight of the project is the installation of a proto-type underwater video camera on the reef. Community partners in the project include, Te Kaahui o Rauru and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust and the Hawera High School and Patea Area School.

Students from Hawera High School and Patea Area School have had charter boat trips out to the reef (which lies 11km offshore) where they have conducted hook and line surveys. Results so far have shown a dominant population of blue cod. Students have also had classroom sessions with the project’s marine biologists, learning to analyse their own hook and line results as well as those collected through other survey methods.

The project has already done a fantastic job of cataloguing a diverse range of species previously unknown to many people in the local community. Organisms found on the reef include

colourful sponges, bryozoans, anemones, hydroids, sea squirts, large amounts of encrusting and foliose algae, crustaceans like crabs and crayfish, sea urchins, nudibranchs, sea cucumbers, all types of fish (even some visiting Australian species), resident carpet sharks, eagle rays, Eddy the resident conger eel and the list could go on. The project has already captured some fantastic images of the colourful and diverse reef ecosystem – check out their Facebook page for more images: https://www.facebook.com/projectreeflife/

The Reef Life project won a Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Award for environmental action in the community in 2016 and in 2017 the project was given national recognition winning the Ministry for the Environment’s Green Ribbon award in the ‘protecting our coasts and oceans’ category. Project members also worked with the TRC to get the Project Reef recognised as ‘outstanding’ in the draft Coastal Plan.

A highlight in 2017 was the Project presenting at Parliament’s Education and Science Select Committee.

Whilst the Project has its own marine scientist, there are many collaborations with specialist marine experts around NZ. The local DOC senior ranger is also kept abreast of Project findings. Species documented at the Project Reef are loaded into a publically available database ‘NatureWatch NZ’ with 88 species as at November 2017.

PROJECT REEF LIFE – SOUTH TARANAKI

2015/1621


Ngā Motu Marine Reserve Society teamed up with local marine science experts, TRC, MAIN Trust NZ, Taranaki Conservationists, Oakura School, Highlands

Intermediate, Manaia School, Auroa School, Hawera Intermediate, and Coastal Taranaki School. The project seeks to harness local knowledge on the presence of coastal threatened species around Taranaki. The four key species the project focusses on are, orca, NZ fur seal, reef heron, and little blue penguin.

School students interviewed coastal recreation groups, friends, family and the wider community to capture sightings of the four species. This information was uploaded to NatureWatch NZ which is an online database of life. Sighting information was mapped using GIS, and students then identified where hotspots of these four species occur. With guidance from scientists the students formulated hypotheses about why these hotspots occur where they do and what potential threats exist at these locations.

Students were taken on a field excursion to a local beach and encouraged to develop action projects. The project culminated

in an end-user workshop where people from industry, regulatory authorities, local business, and other community groups were invited. The students presented the findings from their investigations to those people who can actually use the information to make positive changes for our coastal threatened species.

This is a great example of an action-based project which provides a two-way learning environment where students, science partners, local industry, business and other community groups can share knowledge and results.

Project Hotspot won a Taranaki Regional Council Environmental Award for Environmental Action in Education.

Project Hotspot continued in 2017 with a grant from the ‘Unlocking Curious Minds’ fund.

https://www.hotspot.org.nz/

https://www.facebook.com/projecthotspotnz/

PROJECT HOTSPOT

2015/1622

CURIOUS MINDS

Ngati Tawhirikura Hapu teamed up with horticultural scientists, crop technicians and soil specialists to explore how horticultural science could be used

by community and home-based gardeners. Community participants included Tāhuri Whenua (Māori Vegetable Growers Association), Taranaki Seedsavers and gardeners from Tarereare, Muru Raupatu and Parihaka marae. The home of the project was Katere Marae’s amazing vegetable garden which grew three heirloom vegetable varieties as the focus of the study – a squash, a red onion and a kumara.

Members of the community and garden enthusiasts learned about the chemistry of soil, horticultural techniques and the characteristics of different vegetables and how to apply this science to their own gardens to build the long-term yield and nutrition of their crops. Participants were able to develop a greater understanding of the benefits of growing food locally and effective soil management. Particular emphasis was placed on the impacts on whanau health and wellbeing as well as acknowledgement and support for personal responsibility and kaitiakitanga of soil, food, and seed resources.

The project culminated with harvest and testing of the chosen vegetables for their nutritional properties. There is potential to continue this monitoring into the future to track the health of the soil and the changes in vegetable nutrition. The project also produced a growing and nutrition guide for their four profiled vegetable cultivars including a snapshot of current soil analysis, vegetable nutrition, plant anatomy, growing preferences, and disease management.

TE MOEONE – GROWING FOR THE FUTURE

Otaraua Hapu and Waitara Alive conducted a study investigating the presence of kaimoana along the Waitara coastline. Working with marine scientists,

members of the community learned how to identify different marine species and what these species mean for the health of our reefs.

The project draws on the work of previous Otaraua leaders who undertook an initial survey of Kaimoana stocks in 2001. The 2016 survey used the same methodology and endeavoured through the use of GPS to survey the exact same (or very near to it) locations.

The project captured a photo record of the life and structure of the reef, making use of the online database NatureWatch NZ. This provides a means of visually seeing how the reef evolves over time.

Oral histories of the reefs from kaumātua and community elders were also captured on video. These along with the results from the kaimoana survey were shared with the community in a pop-up shop in Waitara at the end of October 2016.

The results, displayed in the pop-up shop showed that paua was more abundant in the 2016 survey than in 2001, however most paua found were smaller than the legal size. Both mussels and pupu were less abundant in 2016 compared to 2001.

One powerful element of this project was the way it compared scientific result to community observation.

WAITARA KAIMOANA SURVEY

Photo: Vicky Dombroski 2015

23


Taranaki Kiwi Trust led a project to explore the impact of the Egmont National Park Kiwi Conservation Programme. Working with biodiversity and ecological

science experts, the Trust engaged a number of community groups including Taranaki Conservationists, New Plymouth Tramping Club, Taranaki Alpine Club, Forest and Bird Taranaki, Mt Egmont Alpine Club and local schools and iwi to survey the National Park to identify kiwi numbers and preferred location.

Volunteers undertook walk-through and kiwi call recorder surveys and the project will culminate in the release of kiwi tagged with radio-tracking technology into the park. Information was gathered on where kiwi are present in the National Park and which areas of the park are most suitable for future kiwi release and conservation efforts.

Students from Ngaere School helped to design the survey methods and trial recorder technology. They analysed data from recorder surveys and explored what the study’s findings mean for biodiversity and kiwi conservation.

Results from the project show a relatively low number of kiwi present in the Egmont National Park. However, the majority of kiwi that were recorded were located in the predator controlled area of the park which is a positive result for the trapping programme.

The project also has support from Taranaki Electricity Trust and Kiwis for Kiwi.

KIWI PRESENCE IN EGMONT NATIONAL PARK

Primary school students measured long-tailed bat populations in Eastern Taranaki as part of Project Ultra. Led by the East Taranaki Environment Trust, the project

involved students from Kaimata School investigating six different habitat sites to determine where bats are and look at how man-made bat shelters can best be made to simulate natural nesting conditions in these locations.

A key outcome of the project was to raise awareness of the issues surrounding bat population decline and how landowners can be encouraged and enthused to think about the native biodiversity that their land supports. So far the project has produced 11 bat roost boxes which have been erected within the ETET project area. These need to be monitored regularly to see whether bat colonisation has occurred.

Project Ultra benefits from a wide variety of learning formats garnering involvement and enthusiasm from all age groups. The project takes advantage of the experience of Natural Capital ecologist Sian Portier, with Marshall Day Acoustics, the Department of Conservation and the Taranaki Regional Council also advising on equipment and application.

The East Taranaki Environment Trust has developed this project into a unit that can be replicated providing continued monitoring of the bats, and educational opportunity for other schools to take advantage of. The Trust aims to deliver this project again in 2018.

PROJECT ULTRA – PEKAPEKA IN PURANGI

2015

24

CURIOUS MINDS

FOR MORE INFORMATIONDo you have a great idea for a science or technology research project? If so, you may be eligible for Curious Minds funding. For more information about Curious Minds and Science in Society in Taranaki contact Josh Richardson at Venture Taranaki.

E: [email protected] | P: 06 759 5158 (DDI)

Photo: Emily Roberts

25


An initiative of

Venture Taranaki Trust is Taranaki’s Regional Development Agency. We help Taranaki grow.

Venture Taranaki is an initiative founded, owned and principally funded by the New Plymouth District Council. In addition to their support, the Trust also receives funding from South Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council, Taranaki Electricity Trust, TSB Community Trust, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Callaghan Innovation, Business Mentors New Zealand and numerous other private sector organisations.

participatory science platform -...

Documents