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December 21, 2015
Academy to boost rangatahi science interest
Waatea Team
Posted On December 21, 2015
Palmerston North secondary schools are teaming up with Massey University to encourage more young Maori to study science.
Puhoro, the Massey Science Academy, will support promising rangatahi from Manukura, Hato Paora, Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Awatapu College and Feilding High School.
The university will work alongside the schools to select students, advise on appropriate qualification standards, provide extra tutoring, loan laboratory space, offer field trips and generally show students the opportunities available to them.
Massey’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor Maori and Pasifika, Dr Selwyn Katene, says too few Maori are going into science-related study and careers even though demand is growing.
"It’s just not good enough for us to own our land, our farms and work it. We need to be involved across the whole value chain so to that extent we want to encourage people at a young age, so we are not waiting for them to come and knock on our door at university and say they want to take science, we want to expand the number of people that are prepared for a science career," Dr Katene says.
The scheme will be launched early next year by former NASA scientist Mana Vautier, who grew up in Palmerston North and will act as an ambassador and mentor for Puhoro.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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