The House of Science’s Western Bay of Plenty branch is growing, but it does require more volunteers in winter months.

Established in 2014, the charitable trust was founded in Tauranga by Chris Duggan from a need to address the alarming trend of students entering secondary school with little to no exposure to science.

The trust develops relevant, comprehensive resource kits with all materials needed to carry out engaging science lessons with primary and intermediate-age students. The bilingual kits are delivered to schools regularly using a subscription-based library system.

WBOP branch manager Alana Campbell said in Term 2 the trust was on track to deliver 70 kits every fortnight to 44 member schools. This equated to a presence in more than 73% of primary schools in the district, including four kura kaupapa Māori, two intermediates, a college, and homeschool groups. “Our goal is to support teachers in delivering high-quality science programmes that spark curiosity and align with the curriculum, saving time and boosting engagement in the classroom.”

Campbell said she hoped an activity in a kit would spark a lifelong interest and inspire students to keep asking questions, make educated decisions and dream big.

The programme, run mostly by volunteers, is looking for extra hands this winter when their workload traditionally increases. “Adding to the challenge, some of our wonderful volunteers take the opportunity to escape to warmer climates.”

Campbell encouraged those with a few hours weekly to help clean and replenish kits or assist with distribution. Email: alana.campbell@houseofscience.nz.

This month HOS founder Chris Duggan was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit at King’s Birthday for her transformative impact on science education.

Duggan developed HOS on the back of a 2012 Education Review Office report finding 73% of NZ primary schools were not doing science very well, she said. “I was quite horrified and decided something needed to be done.”

The Tauranga Girls’ College head of science quit her job and set up the not-for-profit, with the mission to ensure science education was accessible, engaging and effective for primary students.

“I realised that the two biggest barriers to getting quality science into our primary schools were the lack of teacher confidence and the lack of resources.”

She first created the kits, full of all needed equipment and instructions, in fish bins.

“We are a charity that now delivers science resource kits to primary schools all over New Zealand and the kits allow teachers in our primary schools to deliver hands-on science lessons,” said Duggan.