Youngster's winning flag design to fly in the Chatham Islands
Published by Communications and Development
11 November 2009
A flag designed by Diamond Harbour School pupil Theo Fowler will fly over a hut on Rangatira Island in the Chathams this summer after the youngster won a competition run by the College of Science’s Outreach Programme.
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UC Science Outreach Co-ordinator Joan Gladwyn with Diamond Harbour School pupil Theo Fowler. |
The competition invited primary school children from around the country to design a flag for the Department of Conservation hut where a team from the University’s School of Biological Sciences will stay while carrying out field work over summer. They will be studying the endangered black robin and other wildlife on the island.
For designing the winning flag, Theo was given a book voucher, a certificate and a T-shirt incorporating his design which matches those that the research team members will wear. He was presented with his prize by College of Science Outreach Co-ordinator Joan Gladwyn during a presentation ceremony held at the school.
“Theo’s design stood out from the others submitted in that it was simple and quite stylised, very suitable for a flag. The colours were vivid and the koru motif on the sun was very imaginative,” Mrs Gladwyn said.
When the UC scientists return to Christchurch in January the flag will be given to the school.
Mrs Gladwyn said the competition was part of a larger Outreach programme which would see two science communicators spend time with the scientists over the summer.
The communicators, whose time on the island is being supported by the Brian Mason Scientific and Technical Trust and Canterbury Community Trust, will follow the scientists’ work and write about their experiences on the island in a daily blog.
Mrs Gladwyn said the aim of the programme was to “enthuse young people to take an interest in the science taking place on their doorstep”.
“We hope the blog will provide valuable information for a wide cross-section of New Zealanders and those living overseas.”
She said school children following the programme would be able to post comments and ask questions of the scientists on the island through the blog.
The first science communicator, Alex Sides, headed to the island on 27 October for a five-week stay. The second communicator, Sophie Fern, will stay on the island the rest of the season.
The blog can be found at www.blackrobin.org.nz.
For further information please contact:
Stacey Doornenbal
Communications Officer
University of Canterbury
Ph (03) 364 2984
stacey.doornenbal@canterbury.ac.nz