title: Transformation and visual arts: Donn Rātana in conversation with Claire Coleman

authors: Coleman, Claire

abstract: Interviewed by colleague and friend Claire Coleman, Donn Rātana recounts the creationof  various artworks, his interest in the concept of transformation and his approach to artmaking.A full-time artist and part-time art educator, Donn’s approach to life and work (which is also life) is:
•developing positive relationships
•valuing individual’s contribution to ‘life’
•fanning the ashes of the creative process
•manaakitanga

text: Transformation and visual arts: Donn Rātana in conversation with Claire Coleman Interviewed by colleague and friend Claire Coleman, Donn Rātana recounts the creationof  various artworks, his interest in the concept of transformation and his approach to artmaking.A full-time artist and part-time art educator, Donn’s approach to life and work (which is also life) is:
•developing positive relationships
•valuing individual’s contribution to ‘life’
•fanning the ashes of the creative process
•manaakitanga

year: 2022

title: Understanding student learning in environmental education in Aotearoa New Zealand

authors: Eames, Chris W.

subjects: environmental education

abstract: This paper seeks to provide a perspective on environmental education in Aotearoa New Zealand. To contextualise this perspective, it illustrates how environmental, socio-cultural and political imperatives have shaped the development of environmental education in this land. These imperatives illuminate the natural history of the country, the connectedness within the worldviews of the indigenous Maori people, the pioneering views of some enlightened European settlers, and tensions between development and conservation. We connect this context with an overview of research in Aotearoa New Zealand into one aspect of environmental education - student learning in schools. Examples from recent research in this area are provided to show how these approaches are contributing to the Aotearoa New Zealand-ness of environmental education.

text: Understanding student learning in environmental education in Aotearoa New Zealand This paper seeks to provide a perspective on environmental education in Aotearoa New Zealand. To contextualise this perspective, it illustrates how environmental, socio-cultural and political imperatives have shaped the development of environmental education in this land. These imperatives illuminate the natural history of the country, the connectedness within the worldviews of the indigenous Maori people, the pioneering views of some enlightened European settlers, and tensions between development and conservation. We connect this context with an overview of research in Aotearoa New Zealand into one aspect of environmental education - student learning in schools. Examples from recent research in this area are provided to show how these approaches are contributing to the Aotearoa New Zealand-ness of environmental education.

year: 2011

title: The right place at the right time: Seasonal variation of bacterial communities in arid Avicennia ‎marina soils in the Red Sea is specific to its position in the intertidal

authors: Thomson, Timothy

abstract: Mangrove forests play an important role in facilitating biogeochemical pathways and cycling acting as blue carbon sinks. These services are primarily regulated by the activity of the soil microbiome. However, there is still limited research into spatial and temporal variation patterns of bacterial community assemblages in mangrove soils. This study investigated important ecological scales of microprocesses that govern microbial communities in an arid mangrove ecosystem. Shifts in microbial community composition were influenced by fluctuations in environmental factors within the mangrove forests of the Red Sea influenced by seasonal changes in sea level. Notably, in summer microbial communities in shrub sites differed significantly from the fringe and the winter samples, with lower alpha diversity yet a higher dominance of specialized species capable of surviving in extreme conditions. The onset of dispersal limitation and heterogenous selection and the reduction of drift are likely the main forces shaping community assemblages. Specifically, in summer lower mean tidal levels eliminate tidal inundation creating a harsh high salinity and high temperature environment with no tidal connection thereby influencing the onset of dispersal limitation. An increased understanding of the spatial and temporal variation of bacterial communities is critical when assessing delivery of ecosystem services and their role in soil biogeochemical processes.

text: The right place at the right time: Seasonal variation of bacterial communities in arid Avicennia ‎marina soils in the Red Sea is specific to its position in the intertidal Mangrove forests play an important role in facilitating biogeochemical pathways and cycling acting as blue carbon sinks. These services are primarily regulated by the activity of the soil microbiome. However, there is still limited research into spatial and temporal variation patterns of bacterial community assemblages in mangrove soils. This study investigated important ecological scales of microprocesses that govern microbial communities in an arid mangrove ecosystem. Shifts in microbial community composition were influenced by fluctuations in environmental factors within the mangrove forests of the Red Sea influenced by seasonal changes in sea level. Notably, in summer microbial communities in shrub sites differed significantly from the fringe and the winter samples, with lower alpha diversity yet a higher dominance of specialized species capable of surviving in extreme conditions. The onset of dispersal limitation and heterogenous selection and the reduction of drift are likely the main forces shaping community assemblages. Specifically, in summer lower mean tidal levels eliminate tidal inundation creating a harsh high salinity and high temperature environment with no tidal connection thereby influencing the onset of dispersal limitation. An increased understanding of the spatial and temporal variation of bacterial communities is critical when assessing delivery of ecosystem services and their role in soil biogeochemical processes.

year: 2022