Te Hononga Akoranga COMET is thrilled to announce eleven successful 2024 recipients of Curious Minds South Auckland funding. This year marks a significant milestone with the programme distributing $177,625 to schools across Auckland.
The funding round attracted 22 expressions of interest with several applications notably coming from schools and community groups who have previously participated in Curious Minds projects. This highlights the value that our community has seen in the programme and its ability to foster a strong and sustained engagement in participatory STEM.
"Curious Minds plays a vital role in empowering young people to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in a meaningful way," says STEM Manager Ying Yang. "We know the world is changing rapidly and our students need to be flexible, innovative and courageous in their learning to be prepared for the challenges that await them. Over the last 8 years, we have seen first-hand how participatory science programmes like Curious Minds can give students the skills and motivation they will need to succeed.”
This year, however, marks a bittersweet moment as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) concludes its funding for Participatory Science Platforms in 2024. This means the 2024 round is also the programme's last. Despite this, Te Hononga Akoranga COMET remains committed to fostering a culture of scientific inquiry in Auckland. The organisation is actively exploring alternative options to ensure the programme's long-term sustainability.
If you’d like to be involved, email the STEM team today at STEM@cometauckland.org.nz
The eleven projects funded this year are:
REWILDING AUCKLAND: RESTORING NATIVE WILDLIFE IN THE URBAN JUNGLE
Christ the King Catholic School
Christ the King Catholic School is tackling native wildlife decline with a two-part project. Younger tauira will create a butterfly habitat and learn about their role in the ecosystem, while older tauira will restore a native bush area into an ephemeral wetland and ‘māra hūpara’ that integrates Māori traditions with a playable space. This project aims to provide a haven for wildlife, inspire the community to be environmental guardians and encourage tamariki to be active and inquisitive in the natural environment.
EXPLORING THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT WITH UNDERWATER OPTICAL SENSOR TECHNOLOGY
AUT + Aorere College
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is leading a unique research project in partnership with Aorere College that aims to ignite a passion for marine science in students. Twenty-five Aorere College tauira will join a research expedition on an AUT vessel in Mahurangi Harbour, during which they will use cutting-edge technology to analyse data and learn about ocean health. This project extends beyond research, as tauira will share their findings with their whānau and collaborate with primary schools to foster a more ocean-literate community. Overall, the project aims to highlight the importance of technology in understanding marine and climate issues.
FROM SCHOOL TO SEA: INVESTIGATING STORMWATER POLLUTION IMPACTS ON MARINE ENVIRONMENTS
Tread Lightly Charitable Trust
Schools in east and south Auckland are joining forces on a citizen science project led by Tread Lightly to combat coastal pollution. Tauira will collect and analyse litter data from their schools and nearby coastlines, collaborating with experts to understand the impact of marine pollution and design solutions to prevent litter from entering waterways. Tread Lightly hopes this initiative will empower students to be advocates for change and spark a movement for cleaner coastlines.
UNDERSTANDING HOW INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES INFLUENCE HAUORA
Aorere College
Aorere College seeks to reconnect Māori and Pasifika rangatahi with their cultural roots and the environment through a series of activities aligned with the maramataka. Tauira will collaborate with local marae to explore the impact of the maramataka on hauora through a series of activities including planting a community garden and waka ama. This project aims to strengthen cultural identity through exploring mātauranga Māori and to equip tauira with knowledge for a healthier lifestyle.
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF LIGHT POLLUTION ON URBAN ENVIRONMENTS
Maraetai Beach School
Maraetai Beach School is partnering with Skylabs NZ to combat light pollution on the Pōhutukawa Coast. Tamariki will measure light pollution levels and assess its impact on the environment, health and astronomy. This data will guide strategies for building community awareness and creating solutions for sustainable lighting reduction. The school hopes to ignite students' passion for science through stargazing events, telescope training and talks from inspiring scientists, ultimately empowering them to advocate for dark sky preservation.
TE AITANGA PEPEKE (THE INSECT WORLD)
Robertson Road School
Robertson Road School is transforming its grounds into a vibrant outdoor classroom and 'urban ark’ for native biodiversity. This project aims to teach students about sustainability through hands-on activities, like monitoring the weather with a solar-powered station and creating a haven for native plants and pollinators. Tauira will also explore mātauranga Māori alongside scientists and local marae. The project will extend beyond the schoolyard, cultivating the tamariki as ambassadors for sustainability.
PUNA O LE ATAMAI (FOUNTAINS OF KNOWLEDGE) GARDENS
Pasifika Early Learning
A new garden project at a Māngere aoga amata aims to foster a love of healthy eating for its tamariki, utilising a framework of learning through play. Through designing and planting a sensory garden filled with edible plants, the project will teach students about biology, nutrition and self-care. Whānau will be involved in creating home gardens and participate in cooking classes, fostering self-sufficiency and new knowledge. The aoga also plans to connect with other centres to create a network of green learning spaces. This community-focused project, partnering with local organisations, aims to cultivate both healthy tamariki and a greener future.
GAMIFYING ECO-NUTRITION TO SUPPORT PLANET-FRIENDLIER SCHOOL LUNCHBOXES
Manurewa Intermediate School
Tauira at Manurewa Intermediate are tackling lunchboxes full of unhealthy snacks and wasteful packaging with a student-designed game. The tauira will explore eco-nutrition by analysing their lunches and considering both food health and environmental impact. They'll then turn this knowledge into action by co-designing a game that engages their peers and whānau to discover eco-nutrition for themselves. This project empowers students to be changemakers, using technology to create a ripple effect throughout the community.
KAI 2 (KAITIAKI ACTION AND INVESTIGATION)
Tāmaki College
This project seeks to tackle the issue of waste in the Tāmaki community, finding innovative and sustainable solutions to the dual challenges of high food wastage and pollution. They will conduct waste audits to determine key waste streams in their school and work with local stakeholders and experts to design solutions to minimise these waste streams. The project aims to foster a sense of ownership and belonging, enabling students to contribute meaningfully towards the liveability of their region.
HYDROPONICS: GARDENING WITHOUT SOIL
James Cook High School
This project explores hydroponics as a space-saving and efficient way to grow vegetables in Auckland, where housing density and vegetable prices are on the rise. Tauira will set up a hydroponic system alongside a traditional soil garden to compare crop growth and investigate the viability of hydroponics for urban community gardens.
KĀINGA HAUORA - POKEPOKEA AI (HEALTHY HOME - MOULD)
Te Ararata Stream Team + I AM Māngere
A student-led community project will investigate the prevalence of mould in flood-damaged homes in Māngere and Ōtara. Over 150 tamariki and rangatahi will participate in this research, collecting bedroom swab samples from homes affected by the 2023 Auckland Anniversary floods. These will be compared to samples from non-flooded homes to see if flood-related pathogens are present. The project aims to collect data that will inform planning around remediation efforts and be a catalyst for increasing the standard of healthy homes in south Auckland.