University’s summer camp expands to new disciplines

Hands-On at Otago co-ordinator Sandra Copeland displays a poster promoting a much-expanded...
Hands-On at Otago co-ordinator Sandra Copeland displays a poster promoting a much-expanded University of Otago summer camp for secondary school pupils. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

The University of Otago's "Hands-On'' programme for senior school pupils aims to break down more barriers this summer, and some big changes have also been made.

For the past 26 years, the annual programme has been called "Hands-On Science'' and about 230 senior secondary school pupils have flocked to the Otago University campus in January, from throughout the country.

But the 27th and latest week-long summer camp, which begins this Sunday, is called "Hands-On at Otago''.

Many more school pupils will attend - about 360 - and, for the first time, the programme has been expanded to include humanities and business projects.

The programme aims to show some of the activities university researchers are involved with, and to encourage pupils to consider undertaking further study at Otago, as a step in their careers.

And this summer, two colleges of residence will be used, instead of the usual one.

About 240 science-related pupils will be accommodated at Arana College and the other 120 pupils-mainly in arts, but including some studying aspects of commerce - will stay at Studholme College.

The new humanities projects are archaeology, education, history, law, performing arts, philosophy and politics.

The business projects are in information science and tourism.

The university is also offering 20 other projects, in sciences and health sciences, which will range from anatomy to zoology.

Hands-On at Otago co-ordinator Sandra Copeland was "excited'' about the big changes in the programme, and the further benefits senior school pupils could gain.

Mrs Copeland, who is also a science education officer at the university, said many young participants were coming from small rural schools, which often had limited resources for science education.

The hands-on programme had long been "very successful'' but "we're always looking for improvements''.

There had also been an interest in humanities and business circles on campus to offer projects in their areas.

Many more pupils would be attending the latest camp, but organisers had worked to ensure that the "very friendly'' atmosphere would be retained.

More volunteers would be helping this year, and using two colleges of residence would also help stop the event becoming too big and impersonal, she said.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz

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