Outreach Programme

Inspiring Future Innovators

Our mission is to ignite a passion for science and heart health in the next generation of leaders and innovators. We aim to foster curiosity and positive attitudes toward science by offering engaging, hands-on experiences that empower students to see themselves as future contributors to their communities and to Aotearoa.

“The Manaaki Manawa outreach and education programme is deeply rooted in community engagement, with co-design at its heart.”
— Anuj Bhargava, Professional Teaching Fellow & Undergraduate Advisor, Outreach and Education Lead, Manaaki Manawa

Our Goals

Our outreach programme is designed to:

1. Build strond school partnerships

We aim to establish meaningful relationships with low-decile secondary schools. By participating in existing hui and fono, we gather feedback from teachers, students, and whānau to refine our programmes and align them with the school curriculum.

2. Deliver on- and off-site learning experiences

• Year 10: We visit schools to encourage students to pursue science at NCEA Level 1.
• Year 11: Students and their whānau/community mentors are invited to our labs and clinics to meet scientists and health professionals, supporting continued engagement in science through to Level 2.

3. Provide digital learning tools

We offer interactive online experiments, career exploration resources, and opportunities to connect with scientists and health professionals through Q&A sessions.

Measuring success
We will evaluate the programme through:

• Feedback from students, teachers, and community partners
• Engagement metrics from both in-person and online activities
• Retention rates of students in science from Year 10 through Year 12

A Hands on Approach

Led by a dedicated team of tertiary educators, scientists, graduate students, and high school teachers—many of whom volunteer their time—our programme brings science directly to students.

By using real diagnostic and research tools, students explore how we collect data and understand heart function through real-world scenarios. Activities are designed by education specialists to develop problem-solving skills and deepen understanding of the heart and circulatory system.

Through fun, interactive learning, we aim to spark curiosity, inspire confidence, and nurture a lifelong interest in science.