Quake talk at 'Hands-on-Science'

Senior secondary school pupils from throughout New Zealand will converge on Dunedin for the University of Otago's latest annual "Hands-on-Science" school, which starts tomorrow.

One of the school's early highlights is a free public talk on "New Zealand earthquakes and earthquake hazard in Dunedin".

It will be delivered by Otago geology lecturer Dr Virginia Toy and Prof Richard Norris and will start, inthe university's St David lecturetheatre, at 7.30pm on Monday.

The 23rd school will be attended by 236 secondary school pupils. The week-long programme aims to give them a clearer idea about science study possibilities at the University of Otago and to encourage them to consider making their chosen career in a field of science.

Co-ordinator Rose Newburn said the school had built a "hugely successful" track record, based partly on a "very, very good programme".

The school "does what it says it does" and continued to deliver "in all kinds of unexpected ways".

A recent survey had shown that 40% of the school's participants had subsequently opted to study at Otago University, Mrs Newburn said.

Attendance would be similar to last year, but financial assistance for some pupils had been provided this year by Freemasons New Zealand, through a travel award programme administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand.

The Otago programme also catered for the needs of pupils from smaller schools. About 20% of participants were Maori, organisers said.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz

 

 

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