title: The evolution of bonded design: from elementary school to higher education

authors: Nesset, Valerie

subjects: computer science

abstract: This paper introduces an alternative model of the participatory design (PD) methodology, Bonded Design (BD). Bonded Design originated from research investigating the use of participatory design methods to foster collaboration between two potentially disparate groups, adult researchers/designers and elementary school children. Previous work has shown that by using design techniques selected from various existing PD models, executed in a particular order, the Bonded Design methodology can successfully empower two distinct groups of participants to conceive ideas for innovative technologies they could not have produced alone. For these reasons the BD methodology was chosen as the framework for a university-wide initiative of a Research 1 university to foster meaningful communication and interaction between faculty and IT professional staff with the intent to create innovative technology solutions. Findings from this study indicated that while several Bonded Design features were useful in achieving the end goal, modifications needed to be made to the methodology as a whole to accommodate not only the increased sophistication and knowledge base of the adult participants, but also the design of a tangible final deliverable that could be directly implemented.

text: The evolution of bonded design: from elementary school to higher education This paper introduces an alternative model of the participatory design (PD) methodology, Bonded Design (BD). Bonded Design originated from research investigating the use of participatory design methods to foster collaboration between two potentially disparate groups, adult researchers/designers and elementary school children. Previous work has shown that by using design techniques selected from various existing PD models, executed in a particular order, the Bonded Design methodology can successfully empower two distinct groups of participants to conceive ideas for innovative technologies they could not have produced alone. For these reasons the BD methodology was chosen as the framework for a university-wide initiative of a Research 1 university to foster meaningful communication and interaction between faculty and IT professional staff with the intent to create innovative technology solutions. Findings from this study indicated that while several Bonded Design features were useful in achieving the end goal, modifications needed to be made to the methodology as a whole to accommodate not only the increased sophistication and knowledge base of the adult participants, but also the design of a tangible final deliverable that could be directly implemented.

year: 2020

title: The microeconomic determinants of emigration and return migration of the best and brightest: Evidence from the Pacific

authors: Gibson, John

subjects: brain drain

abstract: A unique survey which tracks worldwide the best and brightest academic performers from three Pacific countries is used to assess the extent of emigration and return migration among the very highly skilled, and to analyze, at the microeconomic level, the determinants of these migration choices. Although we estimate that the income gains from migration are very large, not everyone migrates and many return. Within this group of highly skilled individuals the emigration decision is found to be most strongly associated with preference variables such as risk aversion and patience, and choice of subjects in secondary school, and not strongly linked to either liquidity constraints or to the gain in income to be had from migrating. Likewise, the decision to return is strongly linked to family and lifestyle reasons, rather than to the income opportunities in different countries. Overall the data suggest a relatively limited role for income maximization in distinguishing migration propensities among the very highly skilled, and a need to pay more attention to other components of the utility maximization decision.

text: The microeconomic determinants of emigration and return migration of the best and brightest: Evidence from the Pacific A unique survey which tracks worldwide the best and brightest academic performers from three Pacific countries is used to assess the extent of emigration and return migration among the very highly skilled, and to analyze, at the microeconomic level, the determinants of these migration choices. Although we estimate that the income gains from migration are very large, not everyone migrates and many return. Within this group of highly skilled individuals the emigration decision is found to be most strongly associated with preference variables such as risk aversion and patience, and choice of subjects in secondary school, and not strongly linked to either liquidity constraints or to the gain in income to be had from migrating. Likewise, the decision to return is strongly linked to family and lifestyle reasons, rather than to the income opportunities in different countries. Overall the data suggest a relatively limited role for income maximization in distinguishing migration propensities among the very highly skilled, and a need to pay more attention to other components of the utility maximization decision.

year: 2011

title: Life history of fluvial and lacustrine land-locked koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) Günther (Pisces: galaxiidae) in the Tarawera lakes

authors: Young, Kim D.

abstract: Biological diversity in New Zealand has been seriously degraded as a result of human induced disturbances which include the introduction of many exotic species. Freshwater ecosystems have not escaped damage, with the introduction of primarily sports fish suspected to be a significant contributing factor in diminished native biological freshwater values. This is reflected by range and population reductions of several native fish species. 

One of these species is koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis), for which abundance in land-locked populations in the central North Island lakes has significantly declined. Koaro were once abundant in these lakes, and pre-European harvest in both its juvenile (whitebait) and adult (kokopu) form, comprised an important food resource for inland Maori. Since the introduction of recreational trout species to these lakes in the late 1880s, followed by the introduction of common smelt (Retropinna retropinna) in the early 1900s, the abundance of koaro has dramatically declined to the extent that, in these lakes, the species is now considered rare. 

To date, the interactions between recreational trout species, common smelt, and koaro populations have not been established, and the life-history of land-locked koaro is not fully understood. In particular, the extent of movement between lake and stream habitats remains unclear. However, a collaborative project between the indigenous people of the Rotorua Lakes (Te Arawa) and the Department of Conservation to restore a koaro population in one Rotorua lake, has driven a need to gain a better understanding of the biology and ecology of land-locked koaro. This includes identifying threats to important life-history stages and understanding the role of tributary streams.

During July 1999 to February 2001, lacustrine and fluvial koaro were studied in Lake Tarawera and Lake Okareka and their tributary streams. Both lakes are part of the Tarawera lakes group, a subgroup of the Rotorua lakes situated in the central North Island. Fyke netting was used to sample lacustrine koaro on a monthly basis from January 2000 to February 2001, and seasonal two-pass reduction electric fishing at five sites in the tributary streams took place in April, July and November 2000 and February 2001. All fish larger than 70 mm total length were tagged with a passive implant transponder. Spawning season and location, together with size and growth of lake and stream fish were determined. Movement of lake fish within the littoral zone was also investigated. 

The study found that lake and stream koaro may belong to two sub-populations indicated by differences in size, growth rate, spawning time and locality, and return of lake and stream koaro to natal habitats. The life-history of stream koaro has remained similar to that of its diadromous counterparts. Stream fish were found to spawn and hatch in stream environs, rear as larvae in the lake environs, and return to tributary streams as juvenile fish. Lake fish by contrast, most likely spawn in the lake itself, and results suggest that no juvenile migration of lake spawned fish to tributary streams occurs. Consequently, it was concluded that tributary streams may play little role in the life-history of lacustrine koaro.

Abundance of lacustrine koaro in both Lake Tarawera and Lake Okareka was low in comparison to lakes where trout species or common smelt are absent, and abundance of post-whitebait koaro (greater than 45 mm total length coloured and patterned) in both tributary streams studied was also low where rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were proportionally present in greater abundance. Important life-history stages were found to be subject to competition and predation by a combination of rainbow trout and common smelt in both lakes and streams.

Given the above, restoration programmes for land-locked koaro will need to be undertaken at the population level to enhance the survival of larval and juvenile life-history stages. This will need to occur at an ecosystem scale, and include the management of the combined effects of trout and common smelt in both lake and respective tributary stream environs.

text: Life history of fluvial and lacustrine land-locked koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) Günther (Pisces: galaxiidae) in the Tarawera lakes Biological diversity in New Zealand has been seriously degraded as a result of human induced disturbances which include the introduction of many exotic species. Freshwater ecosystems have not escaped damage, with the introduction of primarily sports fish suspected to be a significant contributing factor in diminished native biological freshwater values. This is reflected by range and population reductions of several native fish species. 

One of these species is koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis), for which abundance in land-locked populations in the central North Island lakes has significantly declined. Koaro were once abundant in these lakes, and pre-European harvest in both its juvenile (whitebait) and adult (kokopu) form, comprised an important food resource for inland Maori. Since the introduction of recreational trout species to these lakes in the late 1880s, followed by the introduction of common smelt (Retropinna retropinna) in the early 1900s, the abundance of koaro has dramatically declined to the extent that, in these lakes, the species is now considered rare. 

To date, the interactions between recreational trout species, common smelt, and koaro populations have not been established, and the life-history of land-locked koaro is not fully understood. In particular, the extent of movement between lake and stream habitats remains unclear. However, a collaborative project between the indigenous people of the Rotorua Lakes (Te Arawa) and the Department of Conservation to restore a koaro population in one Rotorua lake, has driven a need to gain a better understanding of the biology and ecology of land-locked koaro. This includes identifying threats to important life-history stages and understanding the role of tributary streams.

During July 1999 to February 2001, lacustrine and fluvial koaro were studied in Lake Tarawera and Lake Okareka and their tributary streams. Both lakes are part of the Tarawera lakes group, a subgroup of the Rotorua lakes situated in the central North Island. Fyke netting was used to sample lacustrine koaro on a monthly basis from January 2000 to February 2001, and seasonal two-pass reduction electric fishing at five sites in the tributary streams took place in April, July and November 2000 and February 2001. All fish larger than 70 mm total length were tagged with a passive implant transponder. Spawning season and location, together with size and growth of lake and stream fish were determined. Movement of lake fish within the littoral zone was also investigated. 

The study found that lake and stream koaro may belong to two sub-populations indicated by differences in size, growth rate, spawning time and locality, and return of lake and stream koaro to natal habitats. The life-history of stream koaro has remained similar to that of its diadromous counterparts. Stream fish were found to spawn and hatch in stream environs, rear as larvae in the lake environs, and return to tributary streams as juvenile fish. Lake fish by contrast, most likely spawn in the lake itself, and results suggest that no juvenile migration of lake spawned fish to tributary streams occurs. Consequently, it was concluded that tributary streams may play little role in the life-history of lacustrine koaro.

Abundance of lacustrine koaro in both Lake Tarawera and Lake Okareka was low in comparison to lakes where trout species or common smelt are absent, and abundance of post-whitebait koaro (greater than 45 mm total length coloured and patterned) in both tributary streams studied was also low where rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were proportionally present in greater abundance. Important life-history stages were found to be subject to competition and predation by a combination of rainbow trout and common smelt in both lakes and streams.

Given the above, restoration programmes for land-locked koaro will need to be undertaken at the population level to enhance the survival of larval and juvenile life-history stages. This will need to occur at an ecosystem scale, and include the management of the combined effects of trout and common smelt in both lake and respective tributary stream environs.

year: 2002