Solway camp opens girls' eyes to science

SCIENCE: Sought-after science spots for students.

More than 100 Wairarapa students scrambled for a seat at the Solway College all-girl science camp at the Masterton school.

Solway College head of science Rozleen Chand said the inaugural two-day event, which launched Monday, had won an almost $6500 grant from the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment's $1 million Unlocking Curious Minds pilot fund.

"The aim of this camp is to give intermediate school-aged girls, particularly those from rural regions, the opportunity to explore STEM activities [science, technology, engineering, and maths] prior to going to college."

Mrs Chand said about 100 Wairarapa schoolgirls from throughout the region had sought a place at the camp, which was free to attend, and the number of seats had been increased from 40 to 55.

She said students attending the camp, which is running in partnership with the University of Otago, came from homes as far away as Glen Oroua, Pongaroa, Whareama, Kumeroa, and Martinborough.

The Unlocking Curious Minds fund was designed to support new projects to enhance engagement in science and technology for "harder to reach" New Zealanders, in particular young people, Mrs Chand said, and the Sol-Sci science camp "is certainly well placed to meet this objective".

Mrs Chand said the camp would focus on practical experiences of science and technology and activities will include introductions to biology, microbiology, engineering, applied physics and chemistry, translational research, genetics, environmental sciences and ecology, information technology and the science of magic.

Dr Max Berry, a neonatologist and senior lecturer from University of Otago Wellington, opened the camp, sharing stories from her research on the medical management of premature infants.

The camp also includes a trip to Stonehenge Aotearoa, near Carterton, for an evening of star-gazing and astronomy.