Material World

Scientist: Rangi Te Kanawa (Ngāti Maniapoto)

Brief overview of mahi: , a textile conservator at The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, faced the problem of rapid deterioration in the harakeke kākahu. Of particular concern was the rapid deterioration of the fibres that had been dyed black using a traditional method where the fibre is immersed in paru (mud).
Links and possible activities:
National Services, Te Paerangi (Working together with Te Papa / Hono ki Te Papa), ‘Caring for Māori Textiles, Tiakitanga o te Kahu Āku’, He Rauemi Resource Guide ISSUE No. 18
https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/sites/default/files/18-caring-for-maori-textiles-tiakitanga-o-te-kahu-aku_1.pdf
NZ Herald, 6 June 2012 ‘After five years, chemists find way to save cloaks’
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10811029
Connected 2014 level 4 – What’s the Evidence?
Black is back by Rangi Te Kanawa

Scientist: Diane Ruwhiu

Brief overview of mahi: Diane (Ngāpuhi) helps ensure that mātauranga (Māori knowledge) is valued alongside science in national problem-solving initiatives such as Rethinking Plastics Aotearoa.
Links and possible activities
https://www.curiousminds.nz/profiles/diane-ruwhiu/

Scientist: Amanda Black

Brief overview of mahi: Studies oil and water chemistry and applied geology.
Most valuable results:

Adding copper to soils reduces the emission of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that traps the sun’s energy and is part of climate change.
The water mould causing kauri dieback grows well in pasture and pine forest soils

Links and possible activities:
https://nzase.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/2019-03-Amanda-Black-profile-NZASE.pdf

Find out More About:

Scientist: Heni Unwin

Area of Interest: Chemistry and Marine Science

Links:

https://vimeo.com/321918911
https://www.learnz.org.nz/sustainableseas191/meet-heni-unwin
https://www.sftichallenge.govt.nz/our-research/our-researchers/chris-cornelisen/
https://www.sustainableseaschallenge.co.nz/tools-and-resources/tracking-ocean-plastic/

Scientist: Hemi Cumming

Area of Interest: Chemistry

Links:

https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/1593-sea-sponges-and-rongoa https://www.victoria.ac.nz/mai/hemi-story.html https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hemi_Cumming
https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/43384/hemi-cumming-cancer-cure-researcher