Ms Boothby's Year 7 and 8 Science classes spent time with a research scientist as part of their learning about the New Zealand environment.

Dr Jamie Wood, a palaeoecologist with the Long-Term Ecology Lab at Landcare Research, spoke to the students about his work on moa and some of our other ancient birds. He told us how he is able to identify different moa species from bones, feathers and coprolites (fossilised poop!), and why learning about the past can give us insight into how our landscape might change in the future. 

Dr Wood brought along some interesting finds from his excavations of caves and students were able to feel the weight of moa leg bones, touch eggshell fragments and even hold a giant, thousand year old poop! 

This opportunity really brought Science alive and showed us the importance of local and national research projects.