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PROMOTING SCIENCE

New Zealand’s success rests on our ability to make the best use of our scientific expertise. Yet the achievements of our scientists often go unrecognised.

That’s why, today, I was pleased to launch the Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science. The prizes were another election promise. The Government will provide $1 million a year across five prizes to help lift the prestige of science and attract more young people into science careers.

There will be five categories of prizes:

• The Prime Minister’s Science Prize – $500,000
• The Prime Minister’s MacDiarmid Young Scientist of the Year Prize – $150,000
• The Prime Minister’s Future Scientist Prize – $50,000
• The Prime Minister’s Science Teacher Prize – $50,000 to the teacher and $100,000 to their school
• The Prime Minister’s Science Media Communications Prize – $150,000

Science Trolley Compressed With Contents

Firstly he says:

I had fun this morning meeting the children at Glen Taylor School in Auckland with Education Minister Anne Tolley. We were there to launch National Education Standards in reading, writing, and maths.

Introducing National Standards was one of our major election policies. They will lift achievement levels for children in primary and intermediate schools, and report children’s progress on literacy and numeracy to parents in plain English twice a year.

As many as one-in-five children are not getting the reading, writing, and maths skills they need to succeed. National Standards will help identify those children early so they get more help. The Government is providing $36 million over four years to support schools to introduce the new standards.

I’m really not sure where I stand on National Standards. The theory sounds great but it has huge potential for collateral damage. By which I mean misrepresentation of schools; there is no indication in results of the effort and skill or classroom practitioners. How much is genes and how much is solid education. There is potential for breeding eliteism (showever you spell it) If a school gets a reputation of high achieving then the motivated parents with the gifted and talented off spring will gravitate toward those institution, thus feeding the reputation by providing highly motivated, scholastically blessed, students.

What other fallout may there be? Please share.

That level of communication is essential in business but it appears sadly lacking in the public service sector.

Whether someone works for the hospital or a school sharing of opinions and ideas seems to be frowned upon, or in some cases feared.

Whilst at ULearn09 I asked for people’s reaction to something that was spoken about. Some people didn’t want their opinions shared. Others feared ‘fallout’ for people close to them or the institution they were representing.

I am concerned for this culture of fear exists in our society. What a lost opportunity to add to the debate.  Perhaps even affect change for the better.

Why is that people feel like they are not allowed an opinion. Or is it they feel that their option is of little value.

I’m just not sure whether I need to teach him analogue time first.

The clocks he sees are:

In his room is a digital clock and an analogue one. (Analogue one has cows, pigs and sheep on, ticks annoyingly load if you ask me.)

Computer clock.

Clock in lounge is digital.

Cellphone clocks are digital.

One other analogue clock in the dining room (It has Roman numbers- Do I need to teach him the roman numbers before I can teach time the time?)

So my question to you is:

Do I teach Analague time first and then move onto Digital?

When I left the conference venue for the very last time this year I had
run up the road as I realised I had not packed from the morning’s crazy
start. I asked reception to call me a taxi while I stuffed all of my clothes
and gear into my bags. It was a mad drive through the city as the taxi driver
thought I may well miss my flight. Got myself lost on the way to the domestic
terminal and had to backtrack.
Phew, managed to check my bag in, in time and even had opportunity to
chat once more to Keamac.
I thought all is well, I have plenty of time, let’s finish our conversation
so it was not until boarding time did I make my way to the gate, only to
discover the metal detector and x-ray machine (There was not one coming
from Napier) I got binged, as you do. And I went though the gate, apologising
to all and sundry.

“Yes, sir” says the security guard. ” We just need to check the penknife
in your bag.”

Oh no! In my rush I’d forgotten to swop it to checked luggage.

“It’s a little too long, sir.”
Well, could I put it in this other bag and go check it?”
“That’s an idea, sir, but you’ll have to hurry.They won’t hold the plane
for too long.”

I legged it, as fast as I could to check in. Stood in line behind the 3 slowest
people in the entire counrty.
Finally got my bag checked.
Met the same 3 slow people as the queued for the bag drop off.

And again legged in back through security.
Half jogged/walked across the tarmac and into the plane.

“I’m so sorry,” I announce to the whole plane.”You’ll not believe what just
happened to me.”

I am then met with a wall of sound. “Oh look it’s Simon, from Sitech”
“Might have known” “Slow coach”
“I’m sorry, I say, blame me, not the brand.”
And I sit down. Buckle up. and Act like the best passenger in the
whole world.