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• Newsletter – July 2010

  We’ve recently published a new focus story – Wool innovations – showcasing new textiles developed at AgResearch and featured in a catwalk show at the 2008 New Zealand Fashion Week. Also, watch out for another focus story to be added later in the term – Easy care sheep. It looks at developing a more cost-effective sheep using selective breeding.

• Newsletter - May 2010

  This newsletter features a new Focus story – Transgenic cows. Genetic modification is a contemporary and sometimes controversial topic. This Focus story is developed as a resource for teachers of year 13 biology students. It is also a valuable source of information for both science and technology teachers who wish to introduce discussion on the use of genetically modified animals and their products in New Zealand.

• Newsletter - February 2010

  We’ve just added a new theme to the Hub – What is biotechnology? This provides an ideal starting point if you are introducing biotechnology. Also recently published is the Futures thinking tool, and watch out for a new focus story – Transgenic cows – to be added to the Hub later this term.

• Newsletter - November 2009

  We’ve recently published a new theme – Food intolerance and allergies – which looks at biotechnological solutions for diagnosing and treating people with milk intolerance. This month, we’ve also released the Ethics Thinking Tool, an interactive tool designed to help you explore ethical issues with your students.

• Newsletter - September 2009

  This month, we feature new resources showcasing research on fish oil in functional food, including a unit plan for technology teachers, and a new theme on DNA barcoding. Also, you can read about the latest biotechnology developments in our news articles.

• Newsletter - August 2009

  As term 3 begins, we’ve just published some new teaching resources aimed at primary and secondary schools. These resources showcase research on taewa (Māori potatoes) for technology teachers and some of the latest DNA techniques for science teachers.

• Newsletter – April 2009

  Term 2 has begun, and we’ve published some brand new teaching resources aimed at secondary schools. These resources showcase research into evolved enzymes at Victoria University in Wellington. In this research, evolution is mimicked in the lab in order to make novel enzymes for cancer treatment.

• Newsletter – February 2009

  Term 1 has started and we’ve just published some brand new teaching resources about Potatopak, a New Zealand company that uses wastewater from chip processing to make environmentally friendly disposable products.

• Newsletter – June 2008

  This month, we have added some brand new resources to help you explore our Honey to heal focus story with your students. These resources include a unit plan and several worksheets with interesting experiments and hands-on activities.

• Newsletter – April 2008

  This month, find out how biotechnology is being used to improve milk, in our theme ‘Marvellous milk’. Also, keep up-to-date with who is working in biotechnology and what they are doing, by checking out our latest organisation profiles.

• Newsletter – February 2008

  This month, we’ve added some brand new teaching resources to the Hub to help you explore biotechnology in New Zealand. We’d also like interested teachers to get more involved in the site. What would you like to see on the Hub? Would you like to host a video conference at your school, or trial the Hub’s teaching resources or keep up to date with biotechnology in New Zealand? Read more below.

• Newsletter - December 2007

  This month we are delighted to unveil a new look for the Biotechnology Learning Hub. We have updated our homepage and reorganised the teaching and learning resources to make it easier for you to find what you want.

• Newsletter - October 2007

  During this month the Hub team has published a new unit plan focusing on making and developing fermented drinks from traditional recipes. This unit plan has been trialled and a class case study is also available on the Hub.

• Newsletter - September 2007

  During this month the Hub team has published a video conference with the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA). In this video conference, secondary school students asked ERMA questions about genetically modified organisms, environment protection and biocontrol.

• Newsletter - August 2007

  During this month the Hub team has published content about some of the latest medical biotechnologies, including stem cell therapies, bone marrow transplants and xenotransplants. We describe how these technologies may help to improve the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

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