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In this foundational course, we examine stimulating questions such as what science is, who does science, how is science practiced, how do science, culture and society interact and how science is communicated to differing audiences. This course will draw on a variety of historical and contemporary case-studies, leading edge research, ethical challenges and controversial issues. Students will gain an understanding of the civic roles, responsibilities and influence of science in our Maori, New Zealand, and global communities. Students will learn how to work effectively as a team and communicate successfully to communities and end-users. Students will learn what it means to be a successful scientist in Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the world in the 21st century.
On successful completion of this course, you should be able to:1. Investigate how science has been practised in, and is reflective of, knowledge systems in different times, contexts, and cultures.2. Engage in a critical exploration of the methodologies, ideas, and purposes of science.3. Communicate science to different audiences using different media.4. Explain the civic roles, responsibilities, and influence of science and scientists in Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori, and global communities, societies and cultures.5. Critically evaluate the role of science in society by engaging with perspectives of communities and end-users.6. Apply scientific thinking to everyday situations.Transferable skills | Pūkenga ngaioAs well as meeting the learning outcomes, you should also develop these transferable skills during the course: 1. Communication skillsCreate a science communication piece for a particular audience.Work collaboratively in a group/team to achieve an outcome.Know basic te reo Māori and protocol.2. Research skillsExplore solutions creatively, including the ability to develop solutions for issues, opportunities, and challenges facing Māori and indigenous peoples.3. Analytical skillsDiscriminate between valid and invalid scientific arguments.4. Critical thinking skillsPeer review and provide critical constructive feedback on someone else’s work.Critically analyse contemporary social, cultural, and political problems.
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Biculturally competent and confident
Students will be aware of and understand the nature of biculturalism in Aotearoa New Zealand, and its relevance to their area of study and/or their degree.
Engaged with the community
Students will have observed and understood a culture within a community by reflecting on their own performance and experiences within that community.
Students must attend one activity from each section.
You will have three scheduled lectures in each week of the course. We intend to operate two lecture streams throughout the whole semester, but if attendance drops to very low levels, we may reduce this down to one. This means that the same lecture will be repeated twice in the same day. As the afternoon lecture will be a repeat of the morning one, you only need to come to one lecture each day. Lectures will be livestreamed and recorded and made available to watch later on the AKO|LEARN site for the course.Over the course of the semester, there will be five tutorial sessions, in which you are required to actively participate. These will be held in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. There are tutorial streams available at various times throughout the week.
Rob Cruickshank
Antony Nihoniho , Christina Laalaai-Tausa , Suli Vunibola , Simon Kingham , Carolynne Hultquist , Ben Kennedy , Sarah Beaven , Martin Fisher , Michele Bannister , John Pirker , Douglas Campbell , Heather Hendrickson , Trevor Nesbit and Tim Bell
Domestic fee $942.00
International fee $4,988.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Faculty of Science .