title: Epilogue: Implications arising from a national research project on higher education science and engineering learning communities

authors: Coll, Richard K.

abstract: This final paper in this special issue of Research in Science & Technological Education on higher education science and engineering learning communities seeks to summarize the key findings from the project. The research reported in this special issue provides insights into the nature of learning communities for science and engineering higher education students and staff. A particular feature of this project was the involvement of lecturers and tutors who were part of the teaching staff in New Zealand’s higher education. As noted earlier (Coll 2008), these staff were an integral part of the study – being members of the learning communities investigated and thus, acting as ‘insiders’, they provide a unique insight into the nature of these learning communities. In brief, the study sought to detail the nature of higher education science and engineering learning communities, and to understand how these communities differ for teachers and learners at different educational levels, all viewed through a sociocultural lens.
Here, we summarise the findings for the study as a whole, and consider the implications of this work for the teaching and learning of science and engineering in higher education.

text: Epilogue: Implications arising from a national research project on higher education science and engineering learning communities This final paper in this special issue of Research in Science & Technological Education on higher education science and engineering learning communities seeks to summarize the key findings from the project. The research reported in this special issue provides insights into the nature of learning communities for science and engineering higher education students and staff. A particular feature of this project was the involvement of lecturers and tutors who were part of the teaching staff in New Zealand’s higher education. As noted earlier (Coll 2008), these staff were an integral part of the study – being members of the learning communities investigated and thus, acting as ‘insiders’, they provide a unique insight into the nature of these learning communities. In brief, the study sought to detail the nature of higher education science and engineering learning communities, and to understand how these communities differ for teachers and learners at different educational levels, all viewed through a sociocultural lens.
Here, we summarise the findings for the study as a whole, and consider the implications of this work for the teaching and learning of science and engineering in higher education.

year: 2008

title: Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions

authors: Kong, ZH

subjects: Chironomid larvae

abstract: The effects of microplastic (MP) accumulation in freshwaters on organisms and ecosystem functions are poorly understood, as are the roles of MP particle properties in regulating these effects. In freshwater microcosms, we quantified variation in microbial communities and ecosystem functions and compared effects of MP concentration (0, 1000, 50000 particles/kgsediment), shape (sphere, fragment, fibre), and polymer (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene) with those of a model invertebrate consumer (Chironomus riparius). We detected multiple effects of specific MP properties, especially associated with MP fragments and fibres, and the polymer polypropylene. These effects included increases in microbial abundance, consumer biomass and ecosystem respiration, as well as decreases in microbial enzyme activity and water chlorophyll-a. MP presence was also associated with increased relative abundance of microbial taxa reported to degrade plastics. However, consumer presence mostly had stronger effects (effect sizes ranging from ± 11 −313 %) than MP exposure (effect sizes ranging from ± 1–89 %) on microbial communities and ecosystem functions. Furthermore, several MP effects were only detected when chironomid consumers were absent. Overall, our findings suggest that MP effects on microbes and ecosystem functions are often relatively small and variable, depending on particle properties and consumer presence. Nevertheless, the number of MP effects detected highlights the need for further investigations of interactions between MPs and other environmental drivers, to more thoroughly assess the risks of MP pollution for freshwater ecosystems.

text: Microplastics in freshwaters: Comparing effects of particle properties and an invertebrate consumer on microbial communities and ecosystem functions The effects of microplastic (MP) accumulation in freshwaters on organisms and ecosystem functions are poorly understood, as are the roles of MP particle properties in regulating these effects. In freshwater microcosms, we quantified variation in microbial communities and ecosystem functions and compared effects of MP concentration (0, 1000, 50000 particles/kgsediment), shape (sphere, fragment, fibre), and polymer (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene) with those of a model invertebrate consumer (Chironomus riparius). We detected multiple effects of specific MP properties, especially associated with MP fragments and fibres, and the polymer polypropylene. These effects included increases in microbial abundance, consumer biomass and ecosystem respiration, as well as decreases in microbial enzyme activity and water chlorophyll-a. MP presence was also associated with increased relative abundance of microbial taxa reported to degrade plastics. However, consumer presence mostly had stronger effects (effect sizes ranging from ± 11 −313 %) than MP exposure (effect sizes ranging from ± 1–89 %) on microbial communities and ecosystem functions. Furthermore, several MP effects were only detected when chironomid consumers were absent. Overall, our findings suggest that MP effects on microbes and ecosystem functions are often relatively small and variable, depending on particle properties and consumer presence. Nevertheless, the number of MP effects detected highlights the need for further investigations of interactions between MPs and other environmental drivers, to more thoroughly assess the risks of MP pollution for freshwater ecosystems.

year: 2025

title: The display and conservation of taonga Māori - establishing culturally appropriate dislay and conversation facilities: Mahi Māreikura - a work in progress

authors: Whaanga, Hēmi

subjects: Māori art objects

abstract: This paper examines issues relating to the appropriate display and conservation of taonga Māori in the context of a discussion of the establishment of Mahi Māreikura, a room in the University of Waikato library that is dedicated primarily to the display and conservation of the collected taonga and works of the late Dr. Pei te Hurinui Jones and a collection of the work of his colleague and close relative, Professor Bruce Biggs.

text: The display and conservation of taonga Māori - establishing culturally appropriate dislay and conversation facilities: Mahi Māreikura - a work in progress This paper examines issues relating to the appropriate display and conservation of taonga Māori in the context of a discussion of the establishment of Mahi Māreikura, a room in the University of Waikato library that is dedicated primarily to the display and conservation of the collected taonga and works of the late Dr. Pei te Hurinui Jones and a collection of the work of his colleague and close relative, Professor Bruce Biggs.

year: 2006