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Tuesday, 16 February 2016

Down at the Orchard with Sharon

Week 1 - Wellington, STLP Induction Symposium
What a fabulous experience to meet Primary and Secondary School teachers from a variety of backgrounds and to hear about the amazing science projects that are taking place all over New Zealand. There are 21 participants in my group and our placement projects range from studying soil, fungi and fruit to tracking and monitoring bats, kiwi, tuatara, birds and fish. We were all fired up and ready to go after our inspirational week at the Induction Symposium.

Weeks 2 and 3 - On Placement at Plant and Food Research in Clyde
The Scientists in the Physiology Lab - counting apricots!

Here I am writing labels to record the tree code for this crop.

Testing whether these apricots are ready to be picked.

Using a refractometer which measures sugar levels.

Samples of apricots are picked, then taken to the lab to be assessed.

These apricots were incredibly juicy and the best I have ever tasted. It can take years for a new variety of apricot to make it to market.