Franz Josef Glacier School teacher Julie Wolbers has been awarded a NZ Science Mathematics and Technology Teacher Fellowship scheme for 2006. Funded by Government and administered by the Royal Society of New Zealand, the fellowship seeks to raise the profile of science, mathematics, social sciences and technology within the wider community. To achieve this, teachers gain new experiences and understanding outside the classroom that enables them to become more effective educators.

During her year-long fellowship, Julie will be working with the Department of Conservation studying our precious rowi and also working with the West Coast Regional Council monitoring water quality.

Julie will be working alongside biodiversity staff at Franz Josef Department of Conservation from Feb through to December.

As part of her fellowship Julie will undertake a research project involving data analysis of information in the Franz Josef rowi database to look at juvenile dispersal and family trees, growth, survivorship, dispersal and breeding success of operation nest egg (ONE) juveniles compared to wild juveniles.

Her work will involve learning about ONE and the use of island sanctuaries for young kiwi. Julie will work alongside other kiwi staff to learn about what is involved in the day to day activities of a kiwi field worker.

As Julies training progresses she will be given some juvenile pairs to monitor and follow through a full years cycle from Transmitter changes to breeding attempts.

She will also compile media articles for local newspapers including an article for DOC intranet and a photo diary of her time working for DOC to be hosted on a website fro students to follow her work. In addition Julie will work on other species such as mudfish, freshwater fish and bats.

She will able to fully immerse herself in the discovery of knowledge and become more skilled in the communication of science and technology. She will return to the classroom rejuvenated and inspired and pass that enthusiasm on to the students.