» Home > 2012 >

Monthly Archives: June 2012

Request for July Camp

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 | hamvi58p | No Comments

Dear Students/Schools,
The Otago University Advanced School Sciences Academy has commissioned Rakesh Pandey (Director of Big Picture Learning) to work with students and Teachers attending the July session.
He will be demonstrating how to maximise study productivity in a consistent, clear manner so that all students can get the highest grades in their NCEA exams they are capable of.
In preparation for the Sciences Academy, Rakesh would ideally like all of your students attending to do the following:
·      Bring any revision books and notes that students have done for all of their externals.
·      Download and ideally print the last 5 years of exam papers and schedules for each of their subjects’ achievement standards from the NZQA website.
·      Download and print one 2011 exam report for each subject from the NZQA website.
·      Go to studyit.org.nz and print the subject content summaries for each of their achievement standards.
Please acknowledge to theteam@motiv8.co.nz that students who are attending have received this important information.
If your school is interested in finding out about Big Picture Learning and what services they offer, please email them at theteam@motiv8.co.nz and they will send you information on a new cloud-based NCEA revision tool that is about to be released.
Big Picture Learning
5 View St.
Dunedin
New Zealand
Ph./Fax: 64 3 477 2888
www.activ8.co.nz
Description: email

Revenge of the Weeds

Friday, June 22nd, 2012 | STEPHEN BRONI | No Comments

Plant pests are evolving to outsmart common herbicides, costing farmers crops and money

“It’s a story suited for a Hollywood horror film, yet it’s also a tenet of evolutionary biology. Introduce a toxin to a system, and you inevitably select for resistant survivors. These few individuals gain a reproductive advantage and multiply; sometimes they can’t be stopped with even the most potent chemicals.”

Read on for some sobering thoughts:

http://the-scientist.com/2012/05/20/revenge-of-the-weeds/

Planning a Science Degree

Friday, June 15th, 2012 | hamvi58p | No Comments

Overview

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) is a three-year undergraduate degree which enables each student to develop his or her own interests in a science subject (science major) and related subjects. Students have the flexibility to combine their major subject with other science subjects, as well as subjects from other disciplines across the University.

Students may be invited to participate in the four-year Honours degree programme based on their academic performance at the end of their first, second or third year of study in the BSc degree.

Follow the link below to help start planning a degree around what interests you.  If you have any questions, bring them to camp with you and we can get all of the answers you need!

http://www.otago.ac.nz/courses/qualifications/bsc.html#overview

Science Competition: Comvita Science Video Challenge

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012 | hamvi58p | No Comments

If  you haven’t already seen this competition, the Comvita Science Video Challenge is a fun way to learn and communicate science for the Year  9-10 science students. All they need to do is create and submit a 3 minute video explaining how some healthy food ingredients impact on people’s health. 
Details of the completion are herehttp://www.comvitasciencechallenge.co.nz/

NZ International Biology Olympiad Registration, Now Open!

Monday, June 11th, 2012 | hamvi58p | No Comments

 In 2014, New Zealand will be hosting the 25th International Biology Olympiad: the world’s top biology educators and secondary school biology students will converge on the University of Waikato for a week of intense academic effort – but there’ll also be time for making new friends, sharing ideas, and experiencing some of what New Zealand has to offer. “The lead-up to this event will involve a huge amount of work,’ says NZIBO Chair Dr Angela Sharpies, “and we’re very keen for more teachers and academics to join the NZIBO committee and become involved with this awesome event.”
On-line registration for the 2013 NZIBO programme is now open at www.nzibo.org.
For students whose schools have never participated in NZIBO, the fee is $15 per student, while the cost for students from schools that have been involved is $30.
All Year 11 and Year 12 biology students are encouraged to enrol.
Registrations close on the 1st of August and the entrance exam will be held in the fourth week of Term 3 on Wednesday August 8, 2012.
The two hour long, multi-choice exam consists of a series of questions designed to test students thinking and problem solving skills.
The NZIBO programme is an excellent opportunity for Gifted and Talented biology students.
Following the initial exam, approximately 60 students will be invited to enter the tutorial programme.
Full details of the scheme with costs can be found on the NZIBO website.
In 2013, the International Biology Olympiad will be held in Bern, Switzerland. For further information, please contact the NZIBO secretary, Dr H Meikle, at: nzibo.register@gmail.com.
Jessie McKenzie Teaching and Learning Specialist——————————————————————————————The Royal Society of New ZealandDDI: +64 4 4705 789 | MOB: +64 21 254 9114 |  SKYPE: jessie.mckenzie.rsnz 4 Halswell Street, Thorndon, PO Box 598, Wellington 6140, New Zealandwww.royalsociety.org.nz

New OUASSA Staff Member

Friday, June 8th, 2012 | STEPHEN BRONI | No Comments

Hi everyone

My name is Darren Smith.

I’ve just joined the OUASSA team and will be helping out Kate and Steve for the rest of the year.

I’m a biology teacher and the sea has always been my playground, passion and study – and has been since I was old enough to gut a fish and focus a microscope. I have a Masters degree in marine biology and have worked on science research projects looking at the effects of nutrient enrichment on coral reefs and fishing impacts on seafloor communities. I’m also really into sharks, but hopefully not as a potential prey item!

I’m here to help you get the most out of your OUASSA experience and am really looking forward to reading your posts on Knowledge Forum and helping you find the answers to your biology curriculum questions. I’ve been following your progress on KF and have made a few posts on the Marine Science Project A, so maybe take an opportunity for a look. 

See you all soon at the July OUASSA camp for an awesome week of fun, challenging and rewarding science!

July Camp Update

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 | hamvi58p | No Comments

Well OUASSA students, the July camp is rapidly approaching and we are getting very excited to be hosting you at Otago University again.

You will soon recieve (via email) a copy of the Student Handbook with the final details regarding the July Camp.  Included in this information will be the final copy of the timetable as well as all of the important things you will need to remember to pack.

Please take the time to read the information regarding your project options eg if you do Geography you will see that you will need to find your handout from the January camp. If you do Zoology, Marine Science or Geography you will see that you will have a field component to your projects and will have to bring extra warm clothes/wet weather gear etc.

You will all also need to find and bring with you your clean OUASSA t-shirt.

Remember is you have any questions or concerns, please email me directly at OUASSA@otago.ac.nz.

Kind regards and keep warm!

Kate