Children exposed to science
ABOUT 60 youngsters learned more about extracting banana DNA and many other fun topics at an Otago Museum science fair with an unusual twist at the weekend.
To celebrate the recent International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the museum aimed to connect school pupils with some of Dunedin’s own role models in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).
About 150 youngsters, initially in school groups, and later arriving with relatives, attended a Reverse Science Fair at the museum on Friday and Saturday.
Instead of school pupils creating science and technology projects to be assessed by adult scientists, as in the usual museum science fairs, in this ‘‘reverse fair’’ it was adults making presentations to the pupils, and helping them pursue a handson approach to science themselves.
Some of the volunteer presenters — all women — who helped at the Hutton Theatre presentations also featured in the museum’s ‘‘100 women, 100 words. . . infinite possibilities’’ exhibition.
This show, focusing on OtagoSouthland science role models, is still running at the museum’s Beautiful Science Gallery.
‘‘These women are role models for everybody, not just for girls,’’Jessa Barder, a senior science engagement coordinator at the museum, said.
It was ‘‘great’’ that so many people opted to attend the fair on Saturday, despite many other competing activities being offered in the city.
Some families had spent several hours at the fair, and some had gone away for lunch and returned later, she said.
There had overall been an ‘‘amazing’’ response from the adult volunteer presenters, from parents and participating young people to the fair, which showed that the possibilities in science were more exciting and diverse than had always been appreciated in the past.
The show had been ‘‘an incredible opportunity’’ for interactive experiences designed to inspire science engagement for the next generation, including among young women, through handson demonstrations and activities, she said.