A Summer Pause, and a Moment to Say Thanks

A Summer Pause, and a Moment to Reflect

As the year winds down, Bay Science will be slowing down and taking a break over the Christmas and New Year period. Adobe stock.

Like many kaiako and community groups, summer is a time to step back from the constant pace of the year to rest, reset, and spend time with whānau. While the Bay Science website will remain live and resources will stay accessible, regular publishing and updates will be slowing down briefly over summer.

Before we do that, we wanted to pause ourselves and reflect on what has been an unexpectedly full first year online; and to say thank you to everyone who has been part of it.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

What began as a small, volunteer passion-project and experiment has become the front page of science-education news in Aotearoa New Zealand. Over our first year, this has included:

• Publishing 160+ articles spotlighting events, opportunities, classroom practice, kaupapa Māori-informed initiatives, and national science education developments

• Growing to 200+ subscribers, including teachers, scientists, and community organisations from across the motu

• Supporting and promoting local and national science education events, PLD opportunities, conferences, and community initiatives

• Sharing kaiako and community spotlights, helping lift stories and mahi that don’t always make it into national channels

• Producing video content, and there will be more of it in 2026!

• Continuing to centre lifeworthy, context-rich science education, grounded in local environments, mātauranga Māori, and real-world issues

  
  

For a platform that has only existed for a year — and run entirely as volunteer mahi alongside full-time teaching — slowing down over summer feels both necessary and well earned.

Ngā Mihi Nui

To everyone who has taken the time to read an article, click a link, share a post, send through an event, or message with feedback — thank you.

Bay Science exists because people see value in a shared space for science education kōrero, and because there is a genuine appetite for connection across schools, disciplines, and communities.

A special thank you to the teachers, scientists, organisations, and groups who have trusted Bay Science to help share their work, stories, and kaupapa. We hope it has elevated your work, and also helped to bring the fore of Aotearoa science to our classrooms.

Looking Ahead

Bay Science will be back in the new year with refreshed energy and plenty already on the horizon — including new events, spotlights, and ongoing coverage of science education developments heading into 2026.

Until then, we wish all our readers a safe, restful, and well-earned summer break.

Ka kite anō ā te tau hou.

Ngā mihi nui,

Lian and Vicki