Working closely with New Zealand scientists, the Science Learning Hub develops learning content and teaching resources that span a truly varied range of disciplines and topics. Over 170 of their fantastic teaching guides, videos, images, and text-based resources are available on LabXchange! Hear from Cathy Buntting and Andrea Soanes, director and associate director at the Science Learning Hub, about their organization's ongoing work in science education.

What does the Science Learning Hub do?

We’re an educational resource based in New Zealand, but with content that appeals to users around the world. Kiwi scientists are world-leading, and the stories that we tell about them range from investigating air bubbles in ice cores from Antarctica, to space exploration. We’ve also got excellent science explainers and vast numbers of accompanying classroom activities.

Our vision is to make contemporary science more accessible and visible to school teachers and students, and we’ve become a ‘go-to’ for New Zealand scientists and science organisations for communicating with wider audiences. Our recipe for success is a long track record of working with scientists to translate their science for school audiences and providing wrap-around resources that link the science stories with curriculum and classroom practice.

We have over 11,000 resources that showcase cutting-edge science and demonstrate how the stories of science can be used to enrich school teaching and learning, making it more relevant, engaging and meaningful.

We are based at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand, and funded by the New Zealand Government. Our Māori name Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao demonstrates our commitment to the bicultural heritage of New Zealand and recognition of the value of the indigenous knowledge of our nation’s first people, the Māori.

What's one fun fact that LabXchange users should know about your organization?

We are a small but very agile team of only eight people, most of whom work on the project part-time. Across our team we have expertise in resource writing, science teaching, education research, multimedia development, and technical project management. We work closely with New Zealand’s scientists.

What motivates you to work in science education?

We’re all science nerds! Each of us is curious about the world and the possibilities that science offers. But we also recognize that science on its own cannot address all of the challenges that our world is facing, and that we’ll need interdisciplinary approaches that draw on multiple knowledge systems.

As a team, we’re deeply committed to empowering teachers to create meaningful lessons that support students to understand what science can and can’t do. We love hearing how teachers use our resources to create learning experiences that nurture students’ curiosity and inspire them to think critically and creatively.

Which Science Learning Hub content are you most proud of?

Andrea is most proud of our work around climate change, including recent webinars with Associate Professor Chris Eames, Understanding the basics of climate change and the complementary sessions Exploring climate change education in primary schools and in secondary schools. Chris is a New Zealander who was one of four authors for the OECD report Agency in the Anthropocene, which informs the PISA 2025 science framework.

Our wrap around resources are full of support, and include Climate change resources – planning pathways. Climate change – a wicked problem for classroom inquiry provides pedagogical suggestions on ways to approach this issue in ways that help to avoid overwhelming students. If you wish to view all our climate change resources, visit the Climate change topic.

Cathy loves that there is something for everyone – whether you’re looking for something specific, or just browsing for something interesting. Did you know that New Zealander Athol Rafter was a world-leader in developing radiocarbon dating? Or that some our native frogs have features that distinguish them from other frog species, like living and breeding on land and not having a separate tadpole stage?

Celebrating the work of Māori scientists, and the contributions that can be made when science and indigenous knowledge systems work together, is really important to me. You can find links to some of this content here. I’m also really interested in supporting future-focused science education. In 2024 we hosted a summit in which educators explored what contemporary science education needs to look like in order to be fit for purpose. You can find recordings from some of the sessions here.

How can learners and educators best use your content?

This article—"How the Hub can help"—is a good start. You can also just ask us: email enquiries@sciencelearn.org.nz. We love hearing from users!

What does the Science Learning Hub have planned for the future?

The marine estate is a precious but often overlooked treasure, whether you live close to the ocean or inland. We have some great marine biosecurity resources coming that highlight why looking after the marine estate is imperative for humanity’s long-term survival.

Finally, what's your favorite science joke/pun?

Our team laugh a lot together!

We’d love to share a joke about microbiology but we’re afraid it will go viral…

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Explore more of the Science Learning Hub's resources below and in the LabXchange library:

• Investigating Sea Level Rise (teaching guide)
• Investigating How Pea Crabs Affect Supermarket Mussels (teaching guide)
• Why Climate Change Matters to Māori (text)