Community Science Project Fund Extended for 2016

Community Science Project Fund Extended for 2016 in South Auckland

February 29th, 2016

COMET Auckland and The Auckland STEM Alliance are pleased to announce that the Participatory Science Platform: South Auckland pilot (known locally as SouthSci), is open again in 2016: and accepting applications for projects until the 3rd June.

In 2015 the fund kick-started six participatory science projects, of which Project Manager, Dr Sarah Morgan says “were brilliant examples of what amazing potential is hidden in South Auckland”. The 2015 projects were:

• Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in collaboration with AUT University, investigating water quality in the Otara Creek
• Rongomai Primary and Manurewa High School in collaboration with Landcare Research, investigating mould in homes
• Aorere College and Makaurau Marae in collaboration with Wai Care, investigating species diversity and restoration of mauri to the Oruarangi Stream
• A cluster of five early childhood education centres in Mangere in collaboration with NIWA, investigating air quality
• Papatuanuku Kokiri Marae and Koru Primary in collaboration with Sustainable Coastlines and Ngati Whatua Orakei, investigating unassisted vs microbe-assisted composting
• Pupunga Taiamoni Tongan Community Trust, running a scoping study around the effect Kava Tonga has on the human body.

In 2016 the group are inviting people, both community-based and science/STEM industry alike, to apply for up to $20,000 to run a science research project in collaboration between a community group in South Auckland and Science or STEM professionals.

Morgan says “the SouthSci team are really excited for 2016 – the projects we had in 2015 were mind-blowing, we can only imagine the ideas that will come forward this year”.

Mr Fa’avae Gagamoe, whose daughter attends one of the Air Quality project ECE centres working with NIWA, noted unexpected benefits from the project: “The heightened level of interest by my daughter and her application of scientific enquiry when we were at the beach or at the park, even in the car, was a revelation. And as a bonus: her 2 year old sister parrots everything and wants to contribute to the discussion”.

The projects from 2015 are highlighted in a showcase document available for download from the COMET Auckland website, and project event days are featured on the project twitter account @SouthSci.

More information can be found at www.cometauckland.org.nz/SouthSci

ENDS

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