Science Outreach Activities on Campus
We offer a selection of science outreach activities at both Hamilton and Tauranga campuses. These are designed to inspire the next generation of budding scientists, as well as reinforce the science curriculum taught in our local secondary and intermediate schools.
We love having students come to visit, so why not make a booking and bring your whole class to enjoy an unforgettable science experience!
Biology: Animal taxonomy time travel
Description: This activity covers the diversity of adaptations that animals have developed for life on land, including the structural and physiological adaptations in each major taxonomic group.
Curriculum supported: NCEA Level 2 Biology - Demonstrate understanding of adaptation of plants or animals to their way of life
Campus: Hamilton or Tauranga
Duration: 2-3 hours
Physics: Radioactivity and atomic physics
Description: A demonstration of important physics phenomena, including the photoelectric effect, hydrogen lamp spectrum, movement of charged particles in magnetic fields
Curriculum supported: NCEA Level 2 Physics - Demonstrate understanding of atomic and nuclear physics; NCEA Level 3 Physics - Demonstrate understanding of modern physics
Campus: Hamilton
Duration: 2-3 hours
Chemistry: Redox beyond the classroom
Description: A showcase of redox reactions that are out-of-reach of high school laboratories, but that bring this important topic alive.
Curriculum supported: NCEA Level 2 Chemistry - Demonstrate understanding of oxidation-reduction
Campus: Hamilton or Tauranga
Duration: 2-3 hours
Earth Sciences: Materials for radiometric dating
Description: A practical overview of radiometric dating techniques and the materials used, including zircons for U-Pb dating and various carbon-based materials for radiocarbon dating.
Curriculum supported: NCEA Level 3 Earth and Space Science - Investigate the evidence related to dating geological event(s)
Campus: Hamilton
Duration: 2-3 hours
Chemistry: Hands-on spectroscopy
Description: A chance for students to record NMR and IR spectra, and use these to determine the molecular structure of simple organic molecules.
Curriculum supported: NCEA Level 3 Chemistry - Demonstrate understanding of spectroscopic data in chemistry
Campus: Hamilton
Duration: 2-3 hours
Chemistry: Rates and equilibria
Description: A series of demonstrations to reinforce students understanding of the sometimes challenging concept of equilibrium.
Curriculum supported: NCEA Level 2 Chemistry - Demonstrate understanding of chemical reactivity
Campus: Hamilton or Tauranga
Duration: 2-3 hours
Chemistry: Bonding, structure, properties and energy changes
Description: A showcase of activities, including demonstrations with liquid nitrogen, to reinforce the topics taught in this fundamental NCEA external standard.
Curriculum supported: NCEA Level 2 Chemistry - Demonstrate understanding of bonding, structure, properties and energy changes
Campus: Hamilton
Duration: 2-3 hours
Earth Sciences: Using sediments to look back in time
Description: A practical introduction to how scientists use the layers in sediment cores to decipher what Earth's surface looked like in the past, from decades to millions of years ago.
Curriculum supported: Planet Earth and Beyond; Nature of Science
Campus: Hamilton or Tauranga
Duration: 1 hour
Chemistry: Magic show
Description: An unforgetable chemistry magic show that covers a range of exciting demonstrations. The content can be tailored to suit different students ages.
Curriculum supported: Material World
Campus: Hamilton
Duration: 1 hour
Click here to book one of these science outreach activities for your class.