Workshops
As always workshops will be allocated as available and are subject to size limitations and change.
Selection opens 8th July. You will be sent an email to the address provided when registering.
At this stage all of the workshops offered in 2021 are able to go ahead in 2022.
Is there something you think is missing, or would like to see? Feel free to contact us with ideas and feedback!
Beginning and New Technicians Workshop
Jane McCone and Teresa Jones
An overview of the tips and tricks of the trade by two experienced technicians. Covering useful resources, stain removal, equipment maintenance, stock take, inventories, suppliers, GHS, risk assessments and most other things a new or beginning technician would want to know.
Lab Managers
Arwen Heyworth
For those who are Laboratory Managers and for those who are thinking about becoming Laboratory Managers this workshop will run you through the first steps towards compliance and assist you with navigating the current legislation. Examples from real life practice will be used to cement understanding.
Physics
Practicals from the basics to more advanced for physics in the classroom.
Brent Cummack Head of Physics at St Andrews College
Introduction to Microscope Maintenance
Peter Smith
Do you ever get frustrated doing even basic microscope cleaning and maintenance? What about recurring problems that you have to fix? This workshop takes you through some of the basic problems that occur frequently and how to deal with them. Some basic tool use and cleaning techniques are introduced and preventative practices are discussed. Come and try out some techniques, and also share your own knowledge and experiences.
Photosynthesis with encapsulated algae and
Gel Electrophoresis.
Brought to you by the University of Canterbury
Learn how the kits from Canterbury University works in the classroom.
Investigate the production of oxygen via photosynthesis by using encapsulated algae. Delegates use alginate to quantitatively immobilise algae before placing them in vials. The vials contain an indicator solution that changes colour as the quantity of dissolved carbon dioxide changes.
Gel electrophoresis: Undertake a practical activity to reveal how enzymes can be used to cut DNA plasmids in a controlled way, enabling further genetic investigations. Also view how an electric current can be used on charged molecules to separate different size pieces.
Dissection Connection
Peter Smith
Find out about how to source and manage dissection products. Share techniques for thawing and preparing products for the classroom so as to optimise the experience for your teachers and students. Get your gloved hands on the job by doing a couple of dissections of your choice. Pig reproductive organs will be the main focus, but there will also be the usual cow eyes, sheep and pig hearts, sheep plucks, etc. to inspect or have a go at dissecting.
Forensic Science
Solving mysteries in the classroom with activities and ideas to take away
Dr David Winter
Geology
Brought to you by the University of Canterbury
This workshop will showcase some ways in which geology can be made interesting to students. These include use of 360 cameras to conduct and organize virtual field trips to localities of interest; volcano in a barrel experiment; sandbox Banks Peninsula model and activities for rock and mineral demos. Supporting information on the resources will be made available which will help you in recreating these exciting demonstrations/experiences at your school.
RiskAssess
Dr Phillip & Eva Crisp
See how easy it is to carry out mandatory risk assessments of science experiments using RiskAssess! Latest features of RiskAssess will be demonstrated. Learn the tricks and tips for creating labels for multiple chemicals on a single sheet, searching the laboratory scheduling, improving searches for equipment and biologicals, backing up your risk assessments, using Student RiskAssess and more! Questions welcome!
Note there is a chance of the hosts having to attend virtually.
Using Satellite Imaging
Andrew Taylor, Tim Wang, Yusef Elnahas, Sally Kersey
We have been using (free) data from the European Space Agency Sentinel satellites to look at topics of interest with our students: monitoring flow rates in rivers, linking water colour to nitrogen content, identifying flooding, snow coverage on a ski field, spotting traffic on roads and aircraft in flight. We will present some of our work and help introduce you to the wonders of going a little beyond a Google satellite view. Bring a computer, phone or other appropriate device to give it a go yourself.
Open Space Discussion
An Unconference Style Session
Open Space is a self-organizing group activity where participants select and lead discussions on topics of their choosing. Discussions can be on anything at all.
Topic idea starters
Share a successful new activity/process your school has introduced
Outline a problem/difficulty you are having that others can offer suggestions on how to solve
Share a resource you have found useful
Physics & Radioactivity
Brought to you by the University of Canterbury
UC offers workshops to Year 12 students doing an internal NCEA assessment looking at radioactivity. In these sessions, they work with radioactive sources to measure the effectiveness of biological material in absorbing radiation, as well as investigating the half-life of a source of radiation. This workshop will go through this very practical exercise to show how this is done. Also, as Physics is a very practical science, we show a lot of large demonstrations in our lectures and labs. We will show you some of these Physics demonstrations we use to entice students into the sciences, and provide tips on how some of them can be built. Includes tour of new facilities for engineering and science.
Component Soldering & Cable Termination
Gordon Johnson
Using PowerPoint and practical examples the attending technicians will gain a better understanding of soldering, de-soldering and replacing components as well as the pitfalls and the tricks. The time can also include splicing cables and terminating to fixed connections e.g. banana plugs and Crocodile Clips, and a selection of suitable fixings for corrosive applications.
What Your Agriculture teacher wished you knew
Information your agriculture and horticulture teachers would like you to know. Includes useful knowledge and fun practical's.
Jasmine Harrison
Disposal of Chemical Wastes
Dr Phillip & Eva Crisp
Find out what you can safely throw into the garbage or pour down the drain. More importantly, find out what you should not! We consider holistically the issues of toxicity, transport, biodegradability, flammability, volatility, solubility, etc, providing recommended maximum daily quantities for disposal. This advice on the disposal of 3000 chemicals and solutions is now included in RiskAssess and is based on the chemicals' ecotoxicity in sewage systems and in garbage sent to landfill. Questions welcome!
3D Printing and VR
Use of virtual reality and 3D printing in science.
NOTE: Workshop is TBC subject to host availability.
It’s Not Quite Breaking Bad
Mark Kolmer
The National Clandestine Laboratory Team is responsible for the investigation of Clandestine Laboratories within New Zealand. The team identifies and targets cooks of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs as well as the precursor suppliers. Clandestine Laboratory Team also safely dismantle clandestine laboratories and prepare the evidence for identification and prosecution of the offenders. There are currently two National Teams located in Auckland and Wellington that are responsible for the investigation of Clandestine Laboratories. These teams are supplemented by secondary teams throughout the country.
This presentation will depict some of the circumstances and scenes that are typically dealt with by the Clandestine Laboratory Team and explain some of the context around Clandestine Laboratories and the harm that they cause to the community.
GHS 7
Dwayne Bennett
Chemsafety
Dwayne has been with Chemsafety since 2013 and during that time he has become the main presenter of the certified handler and chemical awareness courses. He is approved by WorkSafe NZ as a Compliance Certifier for Certified Handlers and develops site specific chemical awareness training for a range of industries.
During this time there have been a number of changes to Legislation, namely the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work (HSW)Act and all of its regulations including the Hazardous Substances (HS)Regulations 2017 and more recently (April 2021) the implementation of the Globally Harmonized System 7th Revised Edition (GHS7) by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).
Chemsafety have been at the forefront of all of these changes and have developed easy to follow training courses that have incorporated the change over from HSNO Approved Handlers to HSW(HS) Certified Handlers and Worker Training as per HSW(HS) Part 4.5 for clients all around the country and from varying industries.