The Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform has supported 39 community science projects throughout Taranaki, across
16 science and technology disciplines. That number is set to increase with an extension to the programme announced this
week.
Led by Venture Taranaki and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Curious Minds works with
school and community groups who have questions or ideas that can be explored or tested with science. Teams partner with
the science or technology expertise to help them engage with science and understand more about topics relevant to them.
To date more than 1,000 people have been involved in the programme, working with 70 science and technology experts on
projects throughout the region – from Ngamatapouri in the South to Opunake in the West, Tongaporutu in the North, and
Makahu in the East.
“Curious Minds has been running in Taranaki since 2015 and has worked on a wonderfully diverse range of projects in
every corner of the region,” says Michelle Jordan, General Manager Business, Partnerships and Skills at Venture
Taranaki.
“Our community is harnessing science and technology to do some amazing things and it is great that we can continue to
offer Curious Minds in Taranaki.”
The potential of the programme is demonstrated by Ngamatapouri School, whose eight students are running a project to
monitor the Waitotara River’s water quality, path and river levels, which could ultimately warn downstream communities
of an impending flood. This led to them winning a TRC environmental award.
Recent projects have also included the generation of sustainable energy to power electric vehicles, monitoring and
mapping of the critically endangered long-tail bat population in central Taranaki, and an analysis of spring waters on
Mount Taranaki to build knowledge of the current state of volcanic activity of Te Maunga.
“To date $680,000 has been invested into a remarkably diverse range of local science projects. A further $308,000 will
enable even more projects to be undertaken over the next two years,” Michelle says.
“We invite community, school, and any other groups to get in touch with Venture Taranaki to see how their projects could
access this programme.”
“There are three criteria for projects – the have to be educationally valuable, locally relevant, and scientifically
robust. We can work with people to develop their ideas and make an application,” says Michelle.
The Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform is now open for applications for projects to be undertaken in 2020. For
more information or to apply, visit: