Navigating Pharmaceuticals: Drifting the Canoe of Healing
The Journey through Medicines - Whakatere Waka is a captivating, experiential education program that utilizes a Maori worldview to foster open discussions and build confidence around pharmaceuticals. Dr. Karyn Maclennan, part of the Ngāi Tahi Māori Health Research Unit at Otago University, and her team are venturing out to explore significant questions:
- Where medications originate from?
- How are they made?
- How do they work?
- How can we use them safely?
- What lies ahead in the future?
Exploring the Science of Medicines
Dr. Karyn Maclennan shares how the Science of Medicines team selected themes and resources aimed at community engagement. For access to the video transcript, questions for discussion, and copyright information, click here.
Filling the Knowledge Gap
Dr. Maclennan noticed a lack of medicines education within Aotearoa New Zealand's curriculum. She questioned the source of information on medicines and their safe usage among people. Partnering with her colleagues, they established ideas for outreach and secured funding through Unlocking Curious Minds, which supports community engagement in science and technology.
Dr. Maclennan believes that everyone deserves easy access to accurate, relevant information about medicines – particularly the potential advantages and risks associated with their usage. Once the decision is made to consume medication, it is essential to understand how to use it effectively to enhance its efficacy and ensure safety.
Connecting with Communities
The Journey through Medicines – Whakatere Waka aims to bring together communities, especially those who may find science less accessible. The team acknowledges the importance of accessible health information rooted in science. By engaging young people, they also connect with families and community members. Members of the project have the chance to engage directly with community members in face-to-face conversations.
A Navigational Approach to Medicines
For more details on the wayfaring approach used by the Journey through Medicines – Whakatere Waka, click here.
Adapting to COVID-19
During the rise of COVID-19, the explore and protect aspects of the project have taken on greater significance. Investigating how medications function – understanding what our bodies do to medications and vice versa – has been expanded to delve deeper into viruses and vaccines.
Games like COVID Kerplunk and Corona-Bowling provide interactive, hands-on examples of how vaccines protect us and contribute to community immunity. The protection aspect – considering the benefits and risks of medications – emphasizes their safe usage, as well as using fact-based evidence to make informed decisions about medicines and vaccines.
Future Outcomes
To learn more about the Science of Communication and the impact of games and hands-on activities on knowledge sharing and community building, click here.
The D-Bug Game Design Challenge
Inspired by bugs, gaming, and the pandemic, a series of workshops - The D-Bug Game Design Challenge - was created. This platform allows young people to design clay models, dioramas, and digital games to spread awareness about viruses, vaccines, and reinforce concepts in a fun and engaging manner.
Board Game
The Science of Medicines team developed a board game where players navigate their boat through the correct usage of medicines. Download the A3 PDF version of the game here.
Related Content
For a collection of resources on the immune system, vaccinations, and traditional medicine, visit Fighting Infection - Introduction. To explore the topic of antimicrobial resistance, check out Antimicrobial Resistance - A Context for Learning.
More information about other Unlocking Curious Minds projects:
- Kiwi Kai virtual farm
- Kiwrious Science Experience
- Te repo (wetlands)
- Distilling oils and hydrosols
- Ahi Pepe MothNet
- Project Hotspot
- Vision 20/20 Project
- Love Rimurimu
- Healthy homes, healthy futures
- Sediments and seashores - monitoring Otago Harbour
- Buzz in the Garden activities
- Getting to the heart of diabetes and exercise
- Redesigning wētā houses
- Mānuka - a natural weedkiller?
Related Activities
- Game design for viruses and vaccines – Utilizing clay modelling, dioramas, or digital game design, students can develop an understanding of viruses, viral transmission, infection, and defense strategies.
- Viruses and immunity - interpreting infographics – Assist students in interpreting representations created for The Science of Medicines project.
Acknowledgement
The Journey through Medicines is a collaboration between the University of Otago and Tūhura Otago Museum and was funded by an Unlocking Curious Minds community engagement grant.
The Journey through Medicines Stakeholders
For more information about the stakeholders behind the Journey through Medicines project and the D-Bug Game Design Challenge, click here.
- Dr. Karyn Maclennan's team focused on 'education and self-development' by exploring the science of medicines and filling the knowledge gap in Aotearoa New Zealand's curriculum.
- By creating the board game 'Navigating Medicines', the team aims to make 'health and wellness' information more accessible, especially for communities less engaged with science.
