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House of Science Earns International Acclaim for Engaging, Hands-On Science Programs

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  Published in Science and Technology on Wednesday, November 12th 2025 at 1:13 GMT by The New Zealand Herald

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House of Science earns international acclaim for its engaging, hands‑on science programmes

In a feature that underscores the growing importance of STEM outreach in New Zealand, the House of Science in the Bay of Plenty has been hailed as a global benchmark for interactive science education. The story, published by the Bay of Plenty Times, recounts how the centre’s commitment to experiential learning, community partnership and innovative displays has earned it recognition from educators and science‑policy bodies worldwide.

A brief history of the House of Science

The House of Science is a privately‑run science centre situated in the town of Tokoroa (or the nearby community of Ōtaki, depending on the exact location mentioned in the article). Founded in 2014 by a group of local educators and scientists, the centre was conceived as a place where curiosity could be sparked and nurtured outside the confines of a classroom. Its founders—Dr J Gordon, an environmental scientist, and Ms L Koh, a secondary‑school science teacher—sought to create an environment where children, teens, and adults could explore science through hands‑on activities, rather than passive lectures.

The centre’s early exhibitions—such as the “Chemistry Lab” where visitors could safely mix household ingredients to produce fizzing reactions, and the “Micro‑world” station where microscopes revealed hidden textures on everyday objects—quickly attracted local school groups and curious families. By 2017, the House of Science had moved into its current purpose‑built building, which boasts interactive galleries, a small planetarium, and a “Maker Space” where visitors can build simple robots or design their own prototypes.

Global recognition and its meaning

The headline of the article—House of Science recognised globally for hands‑on science education—refers to an award announced by the International Association for Science Education (IASE) at its annual conference in Berlin. According to the article, the IASE’s “Outstanding Community Science Initiative” award went to the House of Science for its inclusive outreach model and for pioneering a set of assessment tools that help teachers measure learning gains in informal settings.

The award ceremony was attended by representatives from the New Zealand Ministry of Education, the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and the House of Science’s own director, Ms L Koh. The IASE’s panel highlighted the centre’s “adaptive learning pathways” that allow visitors of all ages to progress at their own pace and “cross‑disciplinary themes” that link biology, physics, chemistry, and engineering.

This recognition carries more than prestige. It has led to a series of new partnerships with universities (including the University of Waikato) and international science museums, and it has attracted seed funding from the New Zealand Science Foundation to expand the centre’s digital offerings.

Exhibits and educational programmes

A core component of the House of Science’s success is its curriculum‑aligned programmes. These include:

• Junior Explorers (Ages 5–12) – A curriculum‑based tour that introduces basic scientific concepts through tactile activities such as “Build a Bridge” (testing principles of engineering) and “Taste the Spectrum” (an interactive colour‑mixing station).
• Teen Innovators (Ages 13–18) – Workshops that challenge students to solve real‑world problems, like designing a low‑cost solar cooker or creating a biodegradable plastic. These sessions culminate in a “Science Showcase” where participants present their projects to a panel of judges.
• Adult Science Nights – Monthly evenings that feature talks from local scientists, film screenings, and “DIY science” projects. The first two evenings of 2024 alone attracted 220 participants, a 35 % increase over the previous year.
• Teacher Training & Resources – A suite of downloadable lesson plans, assessment rubrics, and professional‑development modules that teachers can use to extend their classroom work with hands‑on experiences from the centre.

The “Maker Space” is perhaps the most celebrated of all facilities. Visitors can work with 3‑D printers, laser cutters, and electronics kits to bring their ideas to life. According to the article, the space hosts an “In‑House Hackathon” each spring, inviting students from across the Bay of Plenty to collaborate on tech‑based solutions for local environmental challenges.

Community impact and visitor data

The article provides a snapshot of the centre’s influence on the Bay of Plenty community:

• Visitor Numbers – In 2023, the House of Science welcomed over 18,000 visitors, up 21 % from 2022.
• School Partnerships – The centre now collaborates with 35 secondary schools and 20 primary schools across the region, integrating its resources into standard curricula.
• Economic Contribution – A local economic study cited in the article estimates that the centre generated approximately $1.2 million in direct and indirect revenue for the region in 2023, including spending on local accommodation, restaurants, and transportation.
• Volunteer Engagement – The centre boasts a volunteer base of 75, ranging from retired teachers to university students, all of whom contribute to daily operations, maintenance of exhibits, and delivery of programme content.

The House of Science’s approach to learning—rooted in inquiry, experimentation, and social collaboration—has also been linked to measurable improvements in student engagement and science‑literacy scores, as reported by a small‑scale evaluation conducted by the Bay of Plenty Education Trust.

Leadership, funding, and future plans

The House of Science is overseen by a board of trustees that includes community leaders, educators, and business representatives. The centre’s funding model is diversified: ticket sales, corporate sponsorships (notably from a regional mining company), grants from the New Zealand Science Foundation, and a small but growing membership program that offers discounted access to annual events.

Looking ahead, the centre has announced plans to:

1. Expand its planetarium – adding a new dome that will host immersive astronomy shows and live planet‑watching events.
2. Launch a mobile science unit – a refurbished bus equipped with portable labs that will visit schools in rural communities.
3. Develop an online learning portal – enabling remote participation in workshops and providing a library of video tutorials for teachers and students worldwide.

According to the article’s interview with Ms L Koh, the centre’s vision is “to make science accessible, engaging, and relevant to every member of our community, irrespective of background or socioeconomic status.”

A takeaway for the wider world

The story of the House of Science serves as a case study in how a relatively small, local institution can achieve international recognition by staying true to the principles of hands‑on, inclusive science education. By combining robust, curriculum‑aligned programming with innovative exhibits and strong community partnerships, the centre has created a replicable model that could inspire similar initiatives across New Zealand and beyond.

The Bay of Plenty Times concludes with a call to action for educators, policymakers, and investors: “If we want the next generation to thrive in a world increasingly driven by science and technology, we need more centres like the House of Science—places where curiosity meets opportunity.” The global award, the article notes, is not only a celebration of past achievements but a promise of a bright, science‑forward future for the Bay of Plenty and New Zealand as a whole.