Join us during World Iron Awareness Week as we host PhD candidate, Ruihi Shortland, in this month’s webinar where she will be  giving us an insight into her mahi developing te Taka Pūmotu, a Māori interpretation of the scientific periodic table.

Drawing from mātauranga Māori, kaupapa Māori and te reo Māori (within the elements of karakia, whakapapa, and kōrero pūrākau), Ruihi Shortland has begun the journey to reframe the Western periodic table of the elements through a te ao Māori lens, presenting a Māori interpretation of the scientific periodic table within the realms of Ranginui, Papatūānuku and their children. 

Ruihi believes a Māori interpretation of the periodic table has the potential to enhance Māori participation in the pursuit of science education mastery and lead to an effective pūtaiao (science) discourse, as well as affirm indigenous pedagogical theories.

Ruihi Shortland

Of Ngāti Awa, Ngā Puhi, and Ngāti Ranginui descent, Ruihi Shortland is a current kaiako of te Reo Rangatira, Pūtaiao, and Mātauranga Mātū at Te Kura Tuarua o Te Mānukatūtahi (Whakatāne High School) who has a strong passion for both te ao Māori and the sciences.

As a secondary school teacher who continued to witness low uptake and success rates of Māori in the sciences as well as experiencing the frustration of attending legal hearings where cultural knowledge appeared to hold less weight than that from the scientific viewpoint, Ruihi set out to make a change. 

Her opportunity came in the form of a PhD thesis. She set out to demonstrate that there is a place for Māori and science together.

Drawing from mātauranga Māori, kaupapa Māori and te reo Māori (within the elements of karakia, whakapapa, and kōrero pūrākau), Ruihi proceeded to reframe the Western periodic table of the elements through a te ao Māori lens, presenting a Māori interpretation of the scientific periodic table within the realms of Ranginui, Papatūānuku and their children. She sees the elements on the scientific periodic table as stepping stones to enable conversations with learners within the realms of te ao Māori and science.

Ruihi believes a Māori interpretation of the periodic table has the potential to enhance Māori participation in the pursuit of science education mastery and lead to an effective pūtaiao (science) discourse, as well as affirm indigenous pedagogical theories.