Ms Gerd Banke1
1Nayland College, Nelson, New Zealand
Biography:
Gerd Banke has been a science teacher at Nayland College for 21 years. In 2022 she was accepted into the science teaching leadership programme (STLP). This programme is run by the Royal Society and funded by the Ministry of Business. For the first part of this programme, Gerd was hosted by Xavier Pochon and Anastasija Zaiko from the Cawthron Research Institute in Nelson.
Abstract:
In 2022, while hosted by Cawthron Research Institute as part of a science teaching leadership programme (STLP), I developed an educational unit called Kaitiakitanga o te Moana for Year 9 students, aligned with the New Zealand Science Curriculum. The unit covers freshwater and marine ecology, pests and pest management, biosecurity, classification, DNA, and the role of eDNA in marine pest detection. This unit, now freely available through the Science Learning Hub, a New Zealand Government-funded initiative, has been taught in the classrooms prior to two successful outreach programs run by Cawthron Research Institute and the Marine Biosecurity Toolbox. Feedback from students and teachers indicates high engagement and a strong understanding of marine pest detection and eDNA applications. The students’ prior knowledge from the unit allowed them to ask critical questions during the outreach day. Overall, the unit and outreach program have significantly increased students' understanding of marine ecology, biodiversity, and invasive species, empowering them to become active contributors to ocean health.