UNE DISCOVERY NEWS ISSUE 01
Discovery. noun /dih-skuhv-uh-ree/ The action or process of finding something; information, a place, an object or a feeling; especially for the first time. Synonyms: finding, locating, uncovering, unearthing.
UNE Discovery is an initiative that aims to change the way people play, learn and connect. We aim to inspire curiosity, confidence, creativity, collaboration and a can-do attitude from an early age.
#playmatters
To this end, UNE Discovery comprises three unique but related parts – first, The Boilerhouse discovery space on the main UNE campus, primarily focused on enhancing the development of children from birth to 12 years old; second, a mobile Discovery program that travels to schools throughout the region to deliver interactive and experiential activities across science, language, music and art; and third, showcasing UNE Collections on campus, including the new Natural History Museum, Museum of Antiquities, the fine art collection, historical artefacts at Booloominbah and more.
In the first few years of life, human brains are making 700 new neural connections every second. During this time, the creation of positive neural pathways is most effective when cognitive, emotional and social development occurs simultaneously. So time for unrestricted imaginative play for children while they are in close contact with parents, carers and other children is an important part of this development. Tinkering, building and role play are all vital to growing confident global citizens. The opportunity to develop an overarching concept like UNE Discovery was triggered by an external patron interested in establishing a children’s Discovery Space on campus. Internally, we sought to effectively communicate our strengths and achievements within and between the academic schools, and share those resources with the community.
You can find out more about the research here - pediatrics.aappublications.org/ content/119/1/182
curiosity confidence creativity collaboration can-do attitude
What’s going on? The Boilerhouse is an architectural award winning structure with a long and illustrious history as the hearth of the institution. Constructed in three stages over approximately 30 years. Within its walls lie stories and a rich history of the university. However, it has sat empty and dormant for long enough. Vice Chancellor and CEO Professor Annabelle Duncan has shown great foresight in announcing the remediation of this contaminated building, for redevelopment as the Boilerhouse discovery space for families and community. And it will start in early 2017! Keep an eye out for work on the hill. A four and a half month pilot program for the mobile UNE Discovery program has proven highly successful in a tiny bus! Our little iLoad van was on the road with a talented and enthusiastic team in August 2016, taking hands on science activities to Martin’s Gully Public School as the first of 44 schools across northern NSW. We have visited schools as far west as Moree and Mungindi, and on the coast in Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Coffs Harbour and engaged with just over 3500 students from Kindergarten to Year 10. Local schools came on board in an encouraging show of support for the initiative, and have requested return visits in 2017. Our presenters have come from Brisbane and Armidale, and in 2017 we are looking to expand our presenter team; an expression of interest will go out in January, to be a facilitator of UNE Discovery activities, travelling to schools and communities.
The Natural History Museum is officially opening in February 2017, and with it, an opportunity to showcase zoology, geology and botany collections in a new way. The museum boasts a research cabinet, which will highlight the work of one of our researchers over a period of 6 months, and information on a specimen of the week will allow insight into collection material often gone unnoticed. The mobile Discovery program will use collection material for the first time outside the university, with students interacting with art, palaeontology, anatomy and morphology activities and understanding the significance and utility of a regional museum like ours.
The Road to Discovery These monthly newsletters will track our progress on this innovative program, keep you curious and herald upcoming events and experiences that you can be a part of. Keep an eye out for our Instagram and Facebook sites coming in early 2017. And share widely!
Curious?
Interested in more details of this exciting project? Contact Dr Kirsti Abbott on une-discovery@une.edu.au visit: unediscovery.org.au