Boxing on for science

Pupils from Wellington’s Sacred Heart School listen to educators while Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin stands outside the Lab in a Box in front of the Beehive on Wednesday.

The fully equipped mobile research lab in a 6m container has been moving around the North Island for the past nine months spreading the science word, and after spending Wednesday and Thursday in Wellington will be returned to its base in Dunedin.

A collaboration between the Otago Museum and University of Otago, and designed to engage and enthuse people about science, the lab has hosted 300 sessions across 52 schools since late 2015.

Dr Griffin said the stop at Parliament was an important opportunity to promote and show how the Otagobased outreach programme was impacting nationally. Members of Parliament as well as various schools had visited during the day.

On its return to Dunedin, the lab will continue to be sent out on various science missions around the South Island.