RSNZ Teacher Fellows - Training at NIWA

RSNZ Teacher Fellows

In 2006, NIWA is hosting two participants in the Royal Society’s New Zealand Science, Mathematics and Technology Teacher Fellowship scheme. Dave Ward teaches at Heathcote Valley School in Christchurch and Andrea Shaw teaches at Wellington College. Here’s what Dave says about his experience this year.

Join NIWA and see New Zealand

My classroom this year has been replaced by a learning environment that stretches from my NIWA campus in Christchurch to the coastal lakes of Northland and to the didymo-infected waterways of Southland.

The common theme of my fieldwork has been investigating the quality of waterways. Much of my time has been spent in the company of Dr Dave Kelly at Inchbonnie on the West Coast, gathering water, plant, and invertebrate samples in order to better understand the complexities of the relationship between intensive dairy farming and water quality

I’ve especially enjoyed the opportunity to collect and study many different invertebrates that provide such vital links in both stream and lake food chains. (Insect parts such as the dragonfly larva’s mouthpiece look spectacular under a microscope!)

A particular highlight was electric fishing at night. Amongst our catch were tenacious, yet secretive, torrent fish. This and similar experiences have given me a new appreciation for the diversity of native fish, many of which are seldom seen and are becoming increasingly threatened by declining water quality and habitat destruction.

Being an avid fly fisherman, I’ve taken a keen interest in NIWA’s quest to better understand the invasive alga didymo. My contribution to the cause has involved long days scrubbing and measuring rocks. Not glamorous, but a necessary data-gathering procedure!

A previous recipient told me that being awarded a New Zealand Science, Mathematics and Technology Fellowship was akin to winning Lotto. Whilst this analogy is not entirely accurate, it has enabled me to share in a wealth of new experiences and enriched me both as a person and in my level of scientific knowledge.

For further information about Teacher Fellows at NIWA, contact:
Dr Julie Hall, 0-7-856 1709, [email protected]

We’ll hear from Andrea in the next issue of Water & Atmosphere.

Training at NIWA

Each year, NIWA staff teach a number of courses over a wide range of subjects. The courses are particularly geared to meet the needs of council and other agency staff. Some of the courses are held at NIWA and others are staged as in-house training at an agency’s premises.

Listed here are the courses we’ll be running over the next quarter. There are still places available but, as always, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.

Electric fishing machine operators
12–13 September, Christchurch

Managing extreme weather and flooding
21–22 September, Christchurch

Acoustic river and streamflow measurement
18–20 September, Christchurch

Hydrological statistics
10 October, Christchurch

Identification of New Zealand native fish
18–19 October, Hamilton

Hydrological data processing
3 days in October (see website), Christchurch

Targeted riparian management
2–3 November, Hamilton

Optimising data quality from environmental monitoring stations
13 December, Christchurch

ADCP flow measurement
4 days in December (see website), Christchurch

For further information on courses, see:
www.niwa.co.nz/edu/training
or contact Jenny White, 0-7-859 1842,
[email protected]