The science camp breaking down the barriers for Māori and Pasifika students

Diversity in academia is essential to expanding our knowledge systems and getting better outcomes for communities, says The Spinoff. Hands-on science programme DiscoveryCamp is helping expose more young people to the possibilities of science. Raukura Kahukiwa (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāpuhi, Tainui) hopes to enter medical school and ultimately specialise in paediatrics. But as tangata Māori, Kahukiwa’s path into academia and especially science has traditionally been obscured with systemic barriers. New research found Māori and Pasifika postgraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) experienced racism, tokenism, isolation and exploitation.