Healthy homes, healthy futures
Citizen science and the local community
Rongomai Primary School is leading a Healthy Homes, Healthy Futures project. The project is part of the Participatory Science Platform (PSP) programme.
Science teacher Nick Pattison and his students teamed up with high school teacher Nicole Stevens and the Manurewa High School Health Sciences Academy to investigate types of mould growing in local homes. The students collaborated with a number of science and community groups, and their investigations have revealed some surprising results!
Students with Dr Peter Buchanan
Landcare Research Team Leader Dr Peter Buchanan works with students from Rongomai Primary School and Manurewa High School.
One of the key aspects of the Participatory Science Platform (PSP) programme are the meaningful and collaborative partnerships between scientists, students and the broader community.
Working as scientists with scientists
Students began the project by meeting with Landcare Research scientists to learn how to collect test swab samples. They also received iButton sensors to measure and record indoor temperatures and humidity levels. Students conducted their research in 22 anonymous houses in the local area. They used five separate swabs in each of the houses, taking samples from the living room, kitchen, bedrooms and other rooms of students’ choice.
iButtons
Students were taught how to use iButton sensors to measure and record indoor temperatures and humidity levels.
Students were invited to spend a day at Landcare Research to plate and view the moulds under microscopes. The experience gave them insight into scientific investigation and what it is like to work as scientists. But it wasn’t just the students who learned something new during this project.
Students plating mould
Manurewa High School and Rongomai Primary School students plating their mould samples on agar.
Surprising results from students’ data collections
Dr Bellgard and students
Landcare Research mycologist Dr Stanley Bellgard helps Rongomai Primary School students to examine their mould samples under a microscope.
Dr Stanley Bellgard, a plant pathologist and mycologist from Landcare Research, analysed the samples. He found:
all of the homes had the right temperature and humidity for mould growth
80% of the homes were mouldy
14 different types of mould across the homes – in forms likely to cause harm
three types of yeasts with the potential to cause disease
three bacteria with antibacterial resistance.
Dr Bellgard says that, for most people, mould spores don’t have a significant impact, but if people have existing health concerns, mould can adversely affect their condition. The homes with the yeasts and antibiotic-resistant bacteria will need further investigation.
Interpreting samples
A Rongomai Primary School student loads data to analyse.
Taking the message from the lab to the local community and beyond
The Rongomai Primary School students who took part in the Healthy Homes, Healthy Futures project know a lot more about damp, mouldy homes and how they affect people’s health. They think their local communities should know about this too. The Rongomai STEM programme produced a music video with ‘winning recipe’ tips to keeping houses well ventilated and healthy.
Student presents work
Rongomai Primary School students, who took part in the Healthy Homes, Healthy Futures project, know a lot more about damp, mouldy homes and how they affect people’s health.
The project has received nationwide attention, and Nick and his students have received further funding to continue their investigations. Nirvana Healthcare, the company who donated the swabs and other consumables for the first investigation, has agreed to build a child-friendly, professional lab to continue testing homes for the next 5–10 years!
Students working as scientists
When Rongomai School and Manurewa High School students investigated local homes for mould, they were working as scientists. Learn about their work and how it reflects the nature of science.
Note: To use this interactive timeline, move your cursor or finger over any of the labelled boxes and select to get further information. You can also scroll forwards and backwards or use the arrows in the top section.
Transcript
4 June 2015 – Poor housing
The coroner finds that cold, damp housing contributes to a local toddler’s death.
Nature of science – everyday problems
Science has applications for issues we face every day. Research indicates cold, damp, mouldy housing contributes to around 42,000 hospital admissions and 15 deaths each year (Children’s Commission data).
Science provides background knowledge to inform decisions but cannot dictate how problems such as substandard housing are solved.
Science capability
Engage with science
Acknowledgement: University of Waikato
June 2015 – Funding the investigation
Rongomai Primary School science teacher Nicholas Pattison and Landcare Research scientists obtain Unlocking Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform funding to sample local homes for mould. COMET Auckland is the project manager.
Nature of science – satisfy curiosity
Science helps satisfy our curiosity. Nick and his students are aware that cold, damp homes can make people sick. They are curious to know how local housing might be affected by this problem and the scientific processes that can help them find out.
Science capability
Engage with science
Acknowledgement: COMET Auckland
July 2015 – Collaboration
Rongomai Primary School STEM students and Manurewa High School’s Health Sciences Academy students team up with Landcare Research plant pathologist Dr Stanley Bellgard and Nirvana Healthcare.
Nature of science – sharing ideas
Most research projects require more knowledge and expertise than an individual person or group may have, so often collaboration is part of the process in scientific research. This can bring together scientists from different fields, local community members and, in this case, school students. School students, Landcare Research scientists and Nirvana Healthcare are involved in the Healthy Homes, Healthy Futures project. Each group brings its own area of expertise, curiosity and questions, working together to build, knowledge to uncover answers and solutions.
Science capability
Engage with science
Acknowledgement: Nick Pattison/Rongomai Primary School
5 September 2015 – Using equipment
Students learn how to accurately use swabs to take samples. They also learn how to use iButton sensors to measure and record indoor temperature and humidity levels.
Nature of science – gathering data
Scientists (and students) need to use the appropriate equipment and follow established protocols when collecting data. This ensures that any data collected is valid. Landcare Research and Nirvana Healthcare shared their expertise and equipment with students, and together, they developed a set of data collection protocols, ensuring measurement equipment and sample swabs are used correctly and in a manner that gathered robust data for the project. These protocols could be easily repeated by another group of researchers.
Science capabilities
Gather and interpret data
Use evidence
Acknowledgement: Rongomai Primary School
25 September 2015 – Gathering data
Students collect data from 22 houses in the local area. The collection protocol (developed by the students with support from the scientists) requires five samples from each house. Students have to swab the living room, kitchen and bedroom but are able to choose other rooms, too. They also measure the temperature and humidity in each of the rooms.
Nature of science – data as evidence
The gathering of data is integral to scientific research. Science aims to build more accurate and powerful explanations and requires evidence to build or uphold scientific arguments. Using a standardised collection protocol helps ensure consistency and accuracy of data.
Science capability
Gather and interpret data
Acknowledgement: Rongomai Primary School
20 October 2015 – Observing the samples
Students take the mould swabs to Landcare Research. They plate the mould swabs and view them under a compound microscope, as the spores are very small.
Nature of science – observation
Scientific observations can be made directly with our own senses or we can extend and refine our basic senses with tools like microscopes. It is important to record observations when collecting and analysing samples. What may seem not important or unconnected may be a vital piece of the puzzle later in a project.
Science capabilitity
Gather and interpret data
Acknowledgement: Nick Pattison/Rongomai Primary School
20 October 2015 – Interpreting the samples
Scientists studying the samples identify 14 different kinds of mould.
Nature of science – interpreting the data
While observation and gathering data is essential to the process of science, it is only half the picture. Interpreting those observations and data is the other half. Scientists observe what’s happening and try to explain it using the evidence they have collected and also knowledge found in other scientific research.
Science capabilities
Gather and interpret data
Use evidence
Critique evidence
Acknowledgement: Rongomai Primary School
28 October 2015 – Surprising results
Scientists are surprised to find a broad range of moulds, three types of yeast that are linked to ill health and an antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the samples taken from local homes.
Nature of science – finding supportive, contradictory, surprising or inconclusive data
Data can support, contradict or be unexpected and surprising. Finding evidence in scientific research sometimes involves serendipity, where an unexpected or surprising result leads the research in a different direction.
The homes with the yeasts and bacteria will need follow-up actions to ensure that the affected rooms are thoroughly cleaned.
Science capabilities
Gather and interpret data
Use evidence
Critique evidence
Acknowledgement: Public domain
29 October 2015 – Presenting their findings
Students present their findings in many forms – via presentations at a school prizegiving ceremony, through a music video and by designing t-shirts. Local and national media also publish the results and the musical compilation.
Nature of science – publication
In order for science to progress, researchers must share their ideas and findings. Scientists often publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals or make presentations at conferences.
Student investigations are more likely to be shared with their friends and family, at science fairs and school assemblies or via media.
Communicating scientific findings is an important part of all research. In order for changes to be made to improve people’s health and lives, the important scientific messages have to be able to be understood by the people affected.
Science capability
Interpret representations
Acknowledgement: Rongomai Primary School
March 2016 – Community action
The results lead community leaders to request building warrants of fitness for rental homes in South Auckland.
Nature of science – inform policy
Research can influence government policy on a range of issues. Scientists are motivated to do research that addresses real problems.
The student-led healthy homes research is receiving a significant amount of media attention. The students hope their research will influence action for improved housing conditions for all New Zealanders.
Science capability
Engage with science
Acknowledgement: Jamie Farrant, licensed through 123RF Limited
April 2016 – Future investigations
Rongomai Primary School receives additional funding to refine their investigation regarding mould in local houses.
Nature of science – replication
Scientists’ research should be replicable, meaning that another researcher could perform a similar investigation using the described methods. The results can then be compared at two different time periods.
Science capabilities
Gather and interpret data
Use evidence
Engage with science
Acknowledgement: New Zealand Government. Crown Copyright. 2016.
For more information about sources of indoor moisture and ways to minimise damp homes, read the article Damp homes and health risks and use the interactive Moisture sources in our homes.
Nature of science
Scientific investigations involve the collection of data. When participating in citizen science projects, students can learn and practise scientific procedures. Scientists use their expertise to interpret the data – allowing both parties to benefit from the collaboration.
Activity idea
The activity Investigating dampness and mould growth uses bread slices to explore the role of moisture – or the lack of it – in mould growth.
Funding
Nick Pattison and the Rongomai Primary School STEM project received funding for Healthy Homes, Healthy Futures through the South Auckland pilot of the Participatory Science Platform (PSP) – a programme that is part of the Curious Minds initiative and funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The PSP is currently being implemented as a pilot in three areas: South Auckland, Taranaki and Otago.
The South Auckland pilot of the PSP is managed by COMET Auckland (Community Education Trust Auckland). COMET is a council controlled organisation of Auckland Council and an independent charitable trust. Its role is to advance education in Auckland by supporting education and skills across the region. COMET Auckland hosts the Auckland STEM Alliance which is leading the pilot in South Auckland. The Auckland STEM Alliance brings together businesses, educators and government.
The Government’s national strategic plan for Science in Society, A Nation of Curious Minds – He Whenua Hihiri i te Mahara, is a Government initiative jointly led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry of Education and the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor.
Useful links
The Rongomai Primary School Healthy Homes, Healthy Futures project was showcased in the media. Read the Stuff article Mouldy search for students.
Watch this YouTube videos about the mouldy homes project: Rongomai S.T.E.M. Mouldy Homes Project.
