All a matter of life or death for students

SENSITIVE ISSUE: Dr Lynne Bowyer debated the ethics and science surrounding life and death at a roadshow in Wairarapa. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

The Bioethics Roadshow hit Wairarapa on Monday to explore ethics and the science of life and death.

More than 160 students from Solway College and St Matthew's Collegiate School attended.

Rozleen Chand, Solway College head of science and careers advisor, said the roadshow featured a team of graduate students and Otago University lecturers led by Dr Lynne Bowyer, who took the Year 8 to Year 10 students through a multimedia array of science topics and "ethical issues concerning the beginning and end of life".

Ms Bowyer sought through the roadshow to take "contemporary bioethical issues into New Zealand schools in order to stimulate informed, critical thinking with high school students", according to the Otago University website.

Ms Chand said the visit was the second project she had co-ordinated to help promote science study among students "and to get them to think about science as their future and a possible career".

"They looked at the beginning of life to death and the end of life and included group work, videos, drama - it was amazing and a wonderful experience for the girls."

It was possibly the first time the roadshow had held a seminar in Wairarapa, she said, and the bioethics team were to visit a Wellington school later this week.

"It is a very simple presentation and a huge range of topics and themes, and we didn't have to travel away to get the opportunity."

Ms Chand was unsure when the roadshow would return for another session at the school, she said, although she was keen to repeat the successful event.