Cheese research for Tararua teacher

FELLOWSHIP: Tararua College teacher Nicola Harding.

Tararua College teacher Nicola Harding has been named as one of 11 secondary school teachers across New Zealand to explore subjects ranging from new product development to probability modelling to a Kiwi strain of the nematode parasite.

Nancy de Bueger, Royal Society of New Zealand project manager, said each of the teachers had been awarded a Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher Fellowship for the first two terms of 2014.

The teachers, who are midway through their projects, took leave from their schools to gain experience in research practice alongside researchers at host organisations.

Ms Harding was heading a project titled The Wonderful World of Artisan Cheese and Biotechnology at the Massey University Institute of Food Nutrition and Human Health, Ms de Bueger said.

Her project aimed to develop a pilot plant for artisan and small-scale cheese production and Ms Harding had been developing and trialling different cheese technology equipment and production techniques.

Ms de Bueger said the focus of the teacher fellowship scheme was on "providing teachers with the opportunity to gain new and up-to-date knowledge to enhance their teaching and their students' learning".

Richard Meylan, Royal Society of New Zealand section manager, said the aim of the scheme was "to take excellent teachers and to give them up-to-date knowledge and experiences".

"The diverse range of subjects the teachers are researching shows that science, mathematics and technology topics are relevant to many aspects of everyday life."

Host organisations for this group of teachers include the University of Auckland, University of Canterbury, University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University, Cawthron Institute, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Napier City Council, Ministry of Primary Industries and Economic Solutions, Napier.

Successful applicants will have spent many months designing their project and liaising with host organisations.

Selection criteria included the calibre of the applicant, the viability of the project and its relevance to their classes when back in school, Ms de Bueger said.

The scheme was administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.