Starting Science Shops in Aotearoa/NZ
email update to interested participants from M Gardner www.mgardner.info

Kia ora! Ciao!
This is an update about starting science shops in Aotearoa/New Zealand. You (or someone who works with you) opted in on this update. If you have comments, ideas or simply wish to drop out from the list, please reply to me using above email. Usually, I can reply within 48 hours of your email.

Starting Science Shops in Aotearoa/New Zealand    #2 Jan 2007

Project: shifting directions
I did not receive the grant from the EUCN –NZ in the last round of 2006.With the absence of extra funding at this stage, I cannot upscale the project nor set out a stand alone website about starting Science Shops in this country.

If anyone sees another way to host and manage a website which allows people both nationally and internationally to make contacts and further develop the opportunity, then please email me. The ideal set up would be under the umbrella of a community based group or a university group or another type of research group with a strong interest in participatory research.

Until such time, in spite of the limitations, I will continue to use the dedicated page of my own website. I will also stay alert to other funding options. Any suggestions, again please email me.

Networking: building on successes
Within Aotearoa/NZ
The last two months of 2006 were a very busy time for presentations and networking throughout the country as well as internationally. There is now a small group of people who are interested in furthering a NZ response to the opportunity presented by the international science shop network. There is an option to consolidate current work and to create support for new capabilities.

In my travels, I found two great resources for synergy.

ANGOA
First is the Association of NGOs of Aotearoa (ANGOA). This group is open to any NGO. The current membership is strongly based in social science and community work but the group is very interested to have environmental, sustainability and natural science groups join them. The Engineers for Social Responsibility are already members.

ANGOA has its main office in Wellington and is well connected with both researchers, government and activists throughout the country. They are steering an initiative about communities and researchers through Auckland’s UNITEC. Margy-Jean Malcolm (director, graduate diploma in not for profit management) says that a suite of projects in a research clearing house will be started in 2007, managed by new staff member Robyn Kamira
  
If you are interested in finding out more about the research clearing house, contact Robyn and Margy-Jean directly.

A great strength of ANGOA is its responsiveness. After addressing their monthly researchers forum in late November, a new group came together the following week to further science shops. The group involved contacts within University of Victoria, the Depts of Labour and Social Development as well as ANGOA. This type of discussion among these parties is exactly what is needed.

 If you are interested in finding out more since this meeting, to learn about the ANGOA research forum or about membership in ANGOA, please contact ANGOA facilitator Dave Henderson directly.

KEA
A Kiwi Expat Association (KEA) might seem an unusual resource for community based action in Aotearoa/NZ. But I found the group is a great resource for Kiwi contacts not only in the home country but throughout the world.  Not only that,  I learned that KEA is networking with Kiwis overseas who are often still involved with back home or are interested in returning if they find the work in the country. The KEA report about exactly who are Kiwi expats and what they do is really informative. Check their website.

Within KEA, Sam Tobin, one time engineer, is an excellent networker with many social and scientific interests and contacts. He is very sympathetic with the idea of Science Shops. If you are interested in KEA or its networks, contact Sam directly.  

Internationally
Upcoming visit by community based researcher and author
Randy Stoecker, action researcher and author of  Research Methods for Community Change, is planning to travel to the Antipodes in April and May 2007. He is interested in visiting community based projects in both Australia and New Zealand. If you have any suggestions or invitations, please contact Randy directly.

Resource from University of Victoria, Canada: how they did it
From Budd Hall at University of Victoria, Canada is this Task Force Report which is the basis of their new Science Shop in Victoria. The document is an excellent model and gives a broad view of the many benefits to both community and university which makes a committment to the participatory approach. For more informationa, contact Budd directly.

International Science Shop Network
The Living Knowledge website and list serve continue to be an excellent centre for news, events and ideas. Among recent announcements is the opening of a new network of Science Shops in China. The next Living Knowledge Conference is in Paris in August 2007.

To sign up to the list, check their website. To make a personal contact with the Network, email Casper de Bok directly.

If you have suggestions, comments or ideas, please email me. Feel free to forward this update to anyone who may also be interested in starting science shops. Thanks!