Otago Museum director Ian Griffin said a "really positive response" from school pupils, teachers and families on the Chathams had vindicated the decision by museum and University of Otago staff to make the trip.
The recent expedition had been the most remote science awareness-raising venture from the New Zealand mainland for Otago Museum staff and was "one of the best expeditions" he had been on, Dr Griffin said.
The project was backed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s "Unlocking Curious Minds" funding.
It was planned to bring a teacher from the Chathams to Dunedin for further training in science education, either later this year or early next year, and to maintain a relationship with the islands.
Islanders had been "very enthusiastic, especially the young school kids" and expedition highlights had included the "faces of the kids at Te One [school]" when hydrogen balloons had been exploded during fun science presentations in a classroom, he said.
