Allan Wilson Centre Newsletter (Pheno)

Three editions of Pheno are published annually containing articles about the Centre's research and activities. Pheno is circulated to a wide audience from secondary schools to those who have an interest in the research we undertake in the AWC. If you would like to receive your own copy please send an email to Joy Wood and she will add you to our mailing list. If you would like multiple copies of any issue (for example, for a class assignment) please also contact Joy.

Copies of past Newsletters are available here. You are welcome to reproduce articles for your own use but we ask that you acknowledge the AWC Newsletter as the source and recognise the author if an author is listed.

TVNZ 7: Ever Wondered 

John Watt searches high and low for answers to today's most challenging scientific questions.  In Series 2, Episode 9; Chapter 2: Mike steel talking about Mathematics and Biology

Human Evolution PowerPoint Presentations

These PowerPoint presentations aim to introduce evolutionary concepts to Year 10 students, using the story of human evolution as an example.

 
Part One  human evolution part 1.pptx (8,041 KB)
Focuses on how humans evolved from ape-like ancestors in Africa to modern humans occupying every part of the globe.  We show how scientists study our evolutionary history, using evidence such as fossil remains and genetics to back their theories, and how these theories may change as new evidence is found.  In particular we highlight the contributions of a New Zealander, Allan Wilson, to our understanding of human evolution.  
 

Part Two  human evolution part 2.pptx (6,057 KB)
Covers adaptation and evolution in modern humans, answering questions such as ‘why do we look the way we do?’ and ‘are we still evolving?’ We discuss how natural selection acts on genetic variation, using examples such as eye colour and disease resistance.  

The pdf files contain notes for teachers to accompany each presentation.   

Human evolution ppt1 notes.pdf (903 KB)

Human evolution ppt2 notes.pdf (869 KB)

Allan Wilson & the Out of Africa Hypothesis

The story of the Centre's namesake.

LENScience Senior Biology Seminar Series

The Allan Wilson Centre is a partner with the Liggins Educational network for Science (LENS)  LENScience Connect Year 13 Senior Biology Seminar Series.  This outreach educational programme, oriented around parts of the Year 13 Biology curriculum, showcases exciting research carried out by New Zealand researchers in biology and medicine.  Access is free to all schools in New Zealand, through either Freeview Channel 7 (TVNZ’s educational channel) Satellite TV or the KAREN National Education Network, and involves real-time interactions with students in the live audience, via wikichat and on video-conference.

Check out AWC postdoc, Dr Ceridwen Fraser, and AWC Investigator, Prof. Hamish Spencer, as they talk about how ancient climate change can be inferred from investigating bull-kelp genetics in their presentation entitled "Ancient Secrets in the Seaweed: Climate Change and Evolution".

Lisa Matisoo-Smith presented a LENS seminar on 16 September 2011 focusing on using DNA to understand the settlement of the Pacific. For more details, see http://lens.auckland.ac.nz/index.php/Pacific_Migration

Presentations

Presentations are undertaken at the request of schools. Of particular interest have been the tuatara demonstrations. The tuatara are based at Victoria University of Wellington. To request a visit to your school please contact Sue Keall at susan.keall@vuw.ac.nz.

Royal Society of New Zealand Teacher Fellowships

The Centre welcomes enquiries from Teachers. Please contact the Centre Manager, Wendy Newport-Smith. Further information is available at www.royalsociety.org.nz