Art, science meld in workshop
Māori stories about the night sky help weave art and science together, a Dunedin potter says.
Jess Nicholson (Kāi Tahu) delivered an Aurora (Te Tahu-Nui-ā-Rangi) clay tile-making workshop at the last day of the New Zealand International Science Festival at Meridian Mall yesterday.
She said she aimed to show the harmonious relationship between art and science as well as Māori stories about the night sky.
"I'm really not a scientist but I really enjoy giving the people the opportunity to chill out with a simple mindful activity."
She said it was nice to hear about people's experiences of the night sky including their cultural understandings.
"I get so much out of it just getting to hear other people's perspectives.
"I feel quite privileged to be in a position where I can share local and national te ao Māori history and ideas."
She said Purākau Māori (traditional Māori narratives) and western science could often be held in conflict with one another but there was a lot of harmony between them.
During the 45-minute session people sat around a table and painted small square tiles with acrylic paint and chatted.
"I think people have found it easy to access."
Ms Nicholson taught a beginners' pottery course at the Otago Potters Club as well as made her own pottery.
She only used clay she found herself at places such as beaches around Dunedin rather than using imported, commercial and pre-made products.
mark.john@odt.co.nz
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Taranaki Science Symposium: Can Science And Innovation Fuel New Billion-dollar Industries In Taranaki?
The launch of the first Taranaki Science Symposium marks a significant step toward establishing Taranaki as a regional hub for new research and innovation. Presented by the Taranaki Applied Innovation Centre, a new initiative led by Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, the regional development agency, the event aims to support science, research, and emerging technologies in the region. Taking place at the New Plymouth Club Auditorium on Thursday 11 September, the event welcomes anyone with an interest in science and innovation, from academics and business professionals to students and community leaders. "While AI is getting all of the hype at the moment, it's biotechnology and other emerging innovations that are quietly seeing huge amounts of investment and commercial success across Aotearoa," says Thom Adams, Innovation Lead at Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki. Investment is flowing from both public and private sectors. In 2022, Paeroa-based company AgriSea New Zealand received a $750,000 loan from the Government's Regional Strategic Partnership Fund towards establishing the world's first commercial seaweed-based nanocellulose manufacturing plant. "The exciting thing about AgriSea is that there are so many high value markets for nanocellulose. It can be used in bio-composites, cosmetics, wound care, and tissue engineering. It's a huge economic opportunity and, what's even more exciting, is that it's a sustainable product." Meanwhile, companies like Wellington-based Bontia Bio are using new techniques like precision fermentation to develop new products for pet flea and tick treatments, tapping into a global market worth billions. "These examples highlight what is possible," Adams says. "We have brilliant people here in Taranaki performing world-leading research. The problem is that they're often either poorly funded or working in isolation. The Symposium is about sparking conversations, and building connections and capabilities across science, tech, industry, and communities in the region." Attendees at the event will hear from inspiring speakers at the forefront of emerging technologies, including: Dr Miles Benton, a Taranaki-based bioinformatician who helped pioneer a portable, low-cost DNA sequencing kit with Oxford Nanopore Technologies. Miles is a passionate advocate for accessible gene sequencing technology that gives communities control over their own local genetic knowledge. Kaiah Bloor (Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine), is Kaiārahi Pūtaiao (Science Lead) at the University of Otago. Kaiah supports Māori science students across Aotearoa and is part of the Wool Gadgets research team at the University of Otago, which transforms low-value wool into innovative new products. Stacey Hitchcock, Deputy CE/General Manager of Investment at Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, says that there is untapped potential in the region. "You never know where the next big idea will come from, or where the next billion-dollar idea is hiding," says Hitchcock. "We have a unique and diverse region with some of the brightest and curious minds - it's a huge, missed opportunity if we don't provide a platform for them." Hitchcock adds that Taranaki also has expertise in complementary industries such as agriculture, engineering, and manufacturing. "As a region, we're well placed to take advantage of our strengths. This event, and the efforts of the Taranaki Applied Innovation Centre, are key avenues for us to start connecting the dots between those strengths." The symposium will also feature an open mic session for sharing ideas, and breakout discussions over morning tea, providing time and space to explore future research and innovation opportunities. Attendees will leave with fresh insights, new connections, and a stronger understanding of the region's potential. Event details Taranaki Science Symposium: Thursday 11 September at the New Plymouth Club Auditorium (9:00am - 2:00pm). Spaces are limited. Register today to secure your spot: Lunch and refreshments provided. About the Taranaki Applied Innovation Centre The Taranaki Applied Innovation Centre is an initiative of Te Puna Umanga Venture Taranaki, the regional development agency, and is a key action within the Tapuae Roa 2025/26 Action Plan, the regional development strategy for Taranaki. The Centre is enabling the development of new high-value industries and a platform for scientific excellence.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
New sea ice research results ‘shocking'
Braving the midwinter conditions at noon near Scott Base, are (from left) science technician Hue Tran, with members of the Scott Base search and rescue team Daniel Beveridge, William Stewart and Alex Sewell, who helped to install the University of Otago's sea ice monitoring station (Sims) in McMurdo Sound. PHOTO: STEPHEN TRIMBLE Is it midnight or midday — at this time of year, it is almost impossible to tell at Scott Base. Staff from the Antarctic base recently spent their lunch break on the sea ice in McMurdo Sound, where they installed the University of Otago's sea ice monitoring station (Sims), for the 2025 winter season. University of Otago sea ice physicist Associate Prof Inga Smith and surveyor Dr Greg Leonard have been collecting measurements from the monitoring station for more than 20 years. The measurements help scientists understanding the seasonal dynamics of sea ice changes, which have important implications for the global climate. Recently, researchers found evidence of a major shift of the Southern Ocean which could accelerate climate change for the whole planet. Typically, as global heating melts the ice around Antarctica, climate scientists would expect saltier water at the surface of the ocean to be replaced by fresh water, because melting ice typically makes the ocean fresher. But new satellite data shows the opposite is happening, which has caught scientists off-guard. It is happening because the salt water is drawing up heat and carbon dioxide from the deep ocean, making it harder for sea ice to regrow. It had the potential to accelerate ice loss and global heating. Assoc Prof Smith said the new results were "shocking" for those researching Antarctic sea ice. The Southern Ocean plays an essential role in regulating the Earth's heat and carbon, and its disruption could trigger cascading effects on other ocean circulation systems, with potential consequences as far away as Europe. She said in a warming world, fresher water from melting of land-based ice sheets and floating ice shelves would be expected to dominate at the ocean surface. Instead, the ocean surface was getting warmer and more salty, right at the time the extent of the sea ice shrank. Researchers would explore this further in the near future, she said.
Otago Daily Times
07-08-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Concerns raised over AI scribe tools for doctors
Major concerns have been raised about the security of private patient information in New Zealand after new research found 40% of the doctors surveyed are using AI scribes to take patient notes. Lead researcher and University of Otago (Wellington) primary healthcare and general practice bioethicist Professor Angela Ballantyne said AI was being rapidly taken up by primary care practices to transcribe patient notes during consultations, despite ongoing challenges with their legal and ethical oversight, data security, patient consent, and the impact on the doctor-patient relationship. "Most AI-scribes rely on international cloud-based platforms — often privately owned and controlled — for processing and storing data, which raises questions about where data is stored, who has access to it, and how it can be protected from cyber threats. "There are also Aotearoa-specific data governance issues that need to be recognised and resolved — particularly around Māori data sovereignty." Prof Ballantyne said 197 health providers working in primary care were surveyed in February and March 2024, providing a snapshot in time of the use of AI-scribes in clinical practice. Most of the respondents were GPs, but others included nurses, nurse practitioners, rural emergency care providers and practice managers. Of those surveyed, 40% reported using AI-scribes to take patient notes. Only 66% had read the terms and conditions on the use of the software, and 59% reported seeking patient consent, she said. Most of those surveyed who used AI scribes found them helpful, and 47% estimated it saved them between 30 minutes and two hours a day by using it in every consultation. However, "a significant minority" said the software did not save time overall because it took so long to edit and correct AI-generated notes, she said. "[Doctors] need to be vigilant about checking patient notes for accuracy. "However, as many survey respondents noted, carefully checking each AI-generated clinical note eats into, and sometimes negates any time savings." Many had concerns about the accuracy, completeness and conciseness of the patient notes produced by AI-scribes, and some were concerned about its inability to understand New Zealand accents or vocabulary and te reo Māori. Others using an AI scribe felt it enabled them to focus more on their patients and build better engagement and rapport through more eye contact and active listening. But there was concern among those surveyed about whether the use of an AI-scribe complied with New Zealand's ethical and legal frameworks. Prof Ballantyne said it could not be assumed that patients consented to their use. "Patients should be given the right to opt out of the use of AI and still access care, and adequate training and guidelines must be put in place for health providers." In July, the National Artificial Intelligence and Algorithm Expert Advisory Group at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora endorsed two ambient AI scribe tools — Heidi Health and iMedX, for use by its clinicians in New Zealand. Prof Ballantyne said the Medical Council of New Zealand was expected to release guidance about the use of AI in health later this year, which was likely to require patients to give consent to the use of AI transcription tools. And there was still a need to track and evaluate the impact of AI tools on clinical practice and patient interactions, she said.
