The haukāinga (local residents) of the Rotorua area – Te Arawa, Tūhourangi and Ngāti Wāhiao – have lived in this highly active geothermal region for generations. The unique geology of the area ...
Scientists think that about 14 billion years ago (that is a 14 followed by 9 zeros), this universe came into being through the Big Bang. This is described in the Big Bang theory. It is thought ...
The world’s largest oil fields are contained in limestones. By contrast, New Zealand’s oil deposits are mostly sandstone based. However, limestone associated with the Tikorangi Formation in the ...
In this activity, students date fossils from one site by matching them to fossils already dated somewhere else. They use real data from Mangahouanga, made famous by paleontologist Joan Wiffen. By ...
In this activity, students identify the main minerals present in granite and investigate some of their properties. By the end of this activity, students should be able to: identify the rock known ...
In this activity, students investigate crystal shapes and crystal systems. Traditional ceramics are clay-based – clays have a mineral composition and minerals have a crystalline structure. By the ...
About 14,000 earthquakes are recorded in and around New Zealand every year. Canterbury’s 7.1 and Kaikōura's 7.8 magnitude earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks show the constant threat ...
Children’s involvement in science is increased when they have an opportunity to make decisions about science-based issues that have consequences for their lives. It’s bringing science into the ...
Serious gaming is growing in appeal across the education sector. This article explores gaming as a tool for learning, using the Aqua Republica Eco Challenge 2016 as an example. Gaming as a tool ...
Rotorua is world famous for its geothermal features. For generations, local Māori used the hot pools with little impact on the natural system. As Rotorua’s population grew, unsustainable amounts ...
In this video, educator Angela Schipper demonstrates how to build a model of an aquifer – a layer of rock or other material that carries water underground. This is an excellent activity that ...
Peter Hall from Scion explains why we need large quantities of carbon neutral energy. Energy is everywhere. Anything we eat or use has energy embodied in it. Every object we produce required ...
In this interactive follow a core sample as it makes its journey from the Alpine Fault to microscopic examination.
This interactive Google map shows the sites we cored and installed observatories at during expedition #375 to the Hikurangi subduction zone. If it is not displaying, switch your browser to ...
This interactive highlights the critical role temperature plays in the world of ceramics.
