The University of Waikato Tauranga campus came alive at STEMFest over the weekend, with thousands of families and science enthusiasts engaging with hands-on science, technology and engineering experiences. From marine species and robots to shark dissections and hydraulic presses, the campus offered something for all ages and highlighted the teaching and research strengths of the University in the Bay of Plenty.
Photo credit: Tauranga STEM Festival (STEMFest) 2025
Teaching Fellow in Environmental and Marine Science Caleb Crosbie delivered shark dissection sessions, introducing audiences to the anatomy and adaptations of the dogfish – the world’s most abundant shark. “Because the ocean is out of sight, it’s hard to engage with, unlike a zoo. Letting kids see a dogfish up close and feel its skin makes science tangible,” he said. “It shows them science isn’t just textbooks and equations; at its heart, it’s real-world observation.”
Families gather to observe a shark dissection at STEMFest
In the Computing Lab, Senior Lecturer Dr Jessica Turner and her students showcased 3D printers, social robots and a range of student-designed projects. Highlights included Bubbles, a deliberately cute robot with large eyes and rounded features, and its angular counterpart Spike. Families also watched printers produce wearable tech, prototypes and colourful bookmarks to take home, while engagement remained strong throughout the day, with many parents interested in learning more about outreach opportunities and computing courses.
“It was fantastic to see such strong engagement from the community around computing,” Dr Turner said. “People were excited to interact with the robots, and the 3D printers proved especially popular. STEMFest gave parents a chance to see the University environment for themselves and reminded people that technology and computing sit alongside science and engineering as an essential part of STEM. It also highlighted the many ways software underpins everyday life in New Zealand.”
Dr Jessica Turner holding Bubbles the robot
In the Science Labs, Technical Officers Eden Mutton and Claire Shellem created a marine-themed scavenger hunt where visitors examined seashells, beetles and bones under microscopes, compared sands from across Aotearoa and encountered live marine species collected from Tauranga Moana. Meanwhile, in the Engineering Labs, Advanced Technical Officer Ben Jackson led Would you like to be an Engineer?, inviting families to build bridges, race cars, make slime and test their creations on a hydraulic press capable of applying 30 tonnes of pressure.
STEMFest also extended into psychology, with Senior Lecturer Dr Rebecca Sargisson and Professor Vincent Reid engaging visitors in activities that tested how people make decisions. Using simple questions and puzzles, they demonstrated cognitive shortcuts, or heuristics, and explained how these mental shortcuts can sometimes lead us to the wrong conclusions. The interactive exhibit gave participants a deeper appreciation of the science behind everyday thinking.
Across the Tauranga campus, STEMFest provided the community with an opportunity to connect with science and innovation in a memorable way. The University of Waikato was proud to share its people, facilities and research, and to demonstrate the role of higher education in inspiring the next generation of learners and leaders in the Bay of Plenty.
