TALES OF DIVERSITY
Moving toward equity by connecting science narratives in STEM education with statistical models of entropy
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
Photo by Te Pania 🦋 on Unsplash
“Hāpaitia te ara tika pūmau ai te rangatiratanga mo nga uri whakatipu | Foster the pathway of knowledge to strength, independence and growth for future generations”
This research from ORUA and Te Pūnaha Matatini begins from the ethical standpoint that all young people in Aotearoa should have a horizon of opportunity open to them to pursue education pathways to STEM professions in Science and Engineering, if they so desire and regardless of their background. Using the Engineering programme at the University of Auckland as an example, evidence points to enormous inequalities in participation for Māori and Pacific students who make up just 10% of the overall Engineering degree cohort [1].
Looking back to the educational pathways that feed into this programme, and forward into the pathways that lead out into the Science and Engineering professions, there is evidence of structural and endemic inequality that shuts off and redirects groups of the population from this rich scientific journey [2].
This transdisciplinary project wishes to make inroads into this story of inequality by using a unique and ground breaking set of approaches that connect the power of stories and personal narratives in STEM education from intermediate school through to the Science and Engineering professions, with a statistical model that places diversity at the heart of its approach and application so that policy goals of equity and diversity can be better measured and pursued.
Narratives… so far!
The following links will take you to web pages, posters and stories from Tales of Diversity activity.
- Tika Māori & Pacific: Tales of Diversity
- Tika Māori & Pacific: Rutherford College Internships
- Demystifying University
- The VR experience from this initiative was adopted by the University of Auckland for the Cook Islands Science Expo
- Science and Engineering Expo at Te Atatū Intermediate
- Complexity is at our heart
- The Power of Stories
- Tales of Diversity in the media
- Te Karere
- New Zealand Herald
- Radio Watea (still being uploaded)
Narratives… coming soon!
Here are some of the narratives we are currently working on, are in the pipeline or are just in our wish list.
- Publications
- Documentary
- Data analysis of educational pathways
- More STEM adventures with Rutherford College
- Socio-ecologial networks in Te Atatū
- Pukapuka (Book)
- Video game
(In development) Our 2023 Community Advisory Group
To support our mahi moving forward and good tikanga, the importance of having a locally built Community Advisory Group for 2023 cannot be overstated. Currently, the model for the group is being built/developed/grown using;
- local educators;
- a passion for STEM and Pasifika and Maori success;
- respected members of the community;
- Tumuaki.
Currently, our Community Advisory Group members are:
- Mr Lloyd Evans (Tumuaki, Te Atatū Intermediate);
- Mr Bevan Verryt (Tumuaki, Birkenhead Primary, and Member of Auckland Pacific Principals Association);
- Mr Gary Moore (Tumuaki, Rutherford College);
- Mrs Jill Jessop (Kaiako, Peninsula Primary School, keen on STEM and passionate about Maori and Pasifika success);
- Mr Joe Vagana (Respected member of the community, Managing Director, successful sports person).
[1] University of Auckland. (2020). Equity Profile 2021. https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/about-the-university/equity-at-the-university/about-equity/monitoring–reporting-and-best-practice.htm
[2] Turnbull, S., Meisel, K., Locke, K., & O’Neale, D.R.J. (2020). The Impact of Science Capital on Self-Concept in Science: A Study of University Students in New Zealand. Frontiers in Education (5), https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2020.00027