"It's all very exciting. Seeing it go so much further abroad is awesome. I think they are so keen because the model here is very effective and it's a low-cost model. It's a great way of connecting what's happening in the local community with schools." To be an official House of Science, an organisation must use the resource boxes and have a regular programme that connected with the local science community, Mrs Duggan said.
"One requirement for those other areas is they need to meet in Tauranga once a year for a conference. Tauranga owns the licence and the concept and will host the annual House of Science director's conference."
Three thousand primary school children in the Western Bay each term this year have made use of the resource boxes for hands-on science, Mrs Duggan said.
"When I walk into a school, they light up when they see the van and the blue boxes. They all want to know where I'm taking them, they get so excited."
At this stage of operations, Mrs Duggan said she would have expected to have about 10 boxes, but 21 have been sponsored by the community. Instead of the one after-school session a week she expected, there are three - and each has a waiting list.
One of the lucky children to get into an after school programme was Christian Stark, 9, from St Mary's Catholic School.
"I like it here because I can learn about stuff that I wouldn't normally have noticed. We get to go next door to the Coastal Marine Field Station and look at the tanks.
"I'm interested in science, one of the things I'm interested in is fish and how they live."
He heard about the House of Science after a science week at school.
"We went and had a look. I've been here since term two. I really like it, I'll come back next year."
