Natural Courses Research Articles

Transformation Inspired from the Margins

Literature on international study and civic engagement acknowledges multiple conditions through which students may achieve personal and intellectual transformation. Less is written about student and faculty transformation when courses reside at intersecting disciplinary margins. Funded by the Luce Initiative on Asian Studies and the Environment (LIASE), two co-located, month-long, off-campus study courses situated faculty and student development within the thematic context of environmentalism in Japan. During the month available, by teaching at the margins, or in other words, beyond familiar lifestyles and areas of knowledge, we examined powerful common-sense assumptions regarding proper questions and answers about environmental challenges. Paired natural and social-science courses explored grassroots efforts to achieve environmental sustainability at the margins, in terms of socio-cultural structures, geography and place, normal life and crisis, cross-cultural and cross-language communication, and between wealthy and developing economies. This article contributes to our knowledge of transformative experiential learning by (1) documenting our processes in and products from co-designing and co-teaching these courses, and (2) reporting on learning resultant from the courses in the words of participating students and faculty, with their consent.

Clinical Manifestation of Gastroesophageal Reflux among Children with Chronic Constipation.

BACKGROUND Functional gastrointestinal system diseases (FGIDs) are a group of childhood disorders, our knowledge of which is relatively limited. More importantly, the different subgroups among such a disease group are closely interrelated, and their natural courses and interrelations have yet to be fully clarified. Functional constipation and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are most frequently seen among this group. However, evidence as to whether any relationship exists between them is limited. In this study, we tried to examine the existence or absence of this relationship. METHODS First, patients with functional constipation were identified based on ROME III criteria, which included 205 patients. All patients were classified into two groups of 185 and 20 patients based on their ability to respond to the questions. Then age, sex, duration of constipation, treatment, and symptoms associated with reflux were examined based on the GERD questionnaire (in case group 185) and I-GERD (in case group 20). Score > 11 in the GERD questionnaire and score > 15 in the I-GERD questionnaire were considered as reflux disease. The variables that were evaluated using Chi-square and Fisher exact tests using SPSS software version 19 included age, sex, the onset of constipation, constipation duration, duration of treatment of constipation, ROME III criteria, and symptoms associated with reflux. RESULTS In the current study 205 subjects were included (girls = 49.8%, boys = 50.2%). The mean age of the children was 5.51 ± 3.15 years. Among the Rome III criteria, the most frequent were retentive posturing, painful defecation, history of large stool defecation, defecation less than 2 times per week, stool accumulation in the rectum, and fecal incontinency more than once a week, respectively. The lowest symptom among people with chronic constipation was fecal incontinency. Also, 46.8% of all patients in the study had a positive familial history. In general, there were 29 patients (14.1%) with reflux out of the 205 patients with functional constipation. In the present study, no significant relationship was found between Rome III criteria and reflux. CONCLUSION The frequency of GERD among cases with constipation was 14.1%. There was no significant relationship between Rome III criteria and reflux.

An integrated approach to education content

Purpose research is the creation of the effective didactic system of interdisciplinary knowledge of natural science courses of environmental education with special emphasis on professional orientation. The methods of the analysis, synthesis of knowledge, educational experiment and mathematical statistics and also a new methodology as the integrated approach were used for the fulfilment of the purpose. The educational experiment on the implementation of the integrated approach has shown the effective results in improving the quality of students' knowledge. The levels, goals and meaningful lines of the integrated approach to students’–environmentalists’ teaching are defined. As a result of research, the concept of the integrated approach of environmental education is developed, a specific of the teaching is defined and the efficiency of the methodical system of ecologists’ preparation is introduced and experimentally checked. Keywords: Environmental education, education content, an integrated approach.

Students’ innovative and creative thinking skill profile in designing chemical batik after experiencing ethnoscience integrated science technology engineering mathematic integrated ethnoscience (ethno-stem) learnings

This research aims to measure the innovative and creative character of Chemistry students in batik motifing of Chemical structures after learning natural products with the integrated STEM approach Ethnoscience. This type of research is a qualitative descriptive study with students of Chemistry education at UNNES taking Natural Product courses as a subject. Instruments data collection are questionnaires, interviews, the value of chemical batik products, and creativity in describing the meaning of batik motifs, appearance, origin, and color creations that have been designed on canvas. Chemical batik products produced by Ethno-STEM Project study were assessed by a research team and batik experts from Zie Batik Malon Gunungpati and batik experts from Pekalongan to determine which batik motifs are feasible to be produced as a form of research downstreaming. The final result of the batik design was decided that four decent batik products were produced in terms of motifs, color display, originals, and interesting creativity according to the judgment of batik experts. The four innovative and creative batik motifs with high scores are the anti-Christian batik motif, alpha pinene, curcuminoid, and Etbo-STEM carotenoids. From the results of this study it was concluded that the profile of innovative and creative character of students after learning with the Etno-STEM approach is very good.

The Development of Science Learning Model for Higher Education of Bachelor Elementary School Teacher Education Program in Distance Learning

This research is the second year of a three-year research plan and the development of a new generation of Universitas Terbuka (UT) learning material models for natural science learning courses in elementary schools for higher education of bachelor elementary school teacher education program at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education. The research design in this research is a combination of the major steps in the R&D cycle with the steps of the system approach to the model of educational R&D. In this research, a series of development and research activities were carried out and is the 8th step of the 15 planned series of activities. The steps in developing the initial format for the New Generation Learning Materials of UT include a series of workshops and independent work. The final product of this research is in the form of nine draft modules consisting of three components, namely: (1) fully printed; (2) blended; and (3) fully online.

Conducting DNA analyses using skeletal remains

Human skeletal remains are important teaching tools in natural science courses. Many teaching skeletons are considered antiques purchased from India prior to 1985. The skeletons purchased prior to 1985 have a high likelihood of being acquired legally through grave robbing. Due to this dilemma we have conducted standard osteological analysis of these teaching skeletons to learn more about these people. Skeletons tell us a substantial amount of information about an individual and how they lived. Various conditions such as nutritional deficiency and young age can alter the skeletal material affecting our ability to accurately analyze skeletal remains which we encountered with these remains. DNA technology can give us definite information we struggle to determine using skeletal remains. Skeletal remains last longer than other bodily tissue allowing us to extract fragmented DNA molecules. For this project DNA was extracted from the pulp of mandibular and maxillary molars of 7 individuals. We tested three samples per tooth to limit contamination and increase the likelihood of a full profile. DNA samples were analyzed using a SeqStudios Genetic Analyzer. Sex of individuals were compared to the skeletal analyses, kinship was determined, and allele frequencies were compared.

Cheese manufacturing wastewater treatment by combined physicochemical processes for reuse and fertilizer production

Making cheese manufacturing environmentally sustainable is a major concern in the integrated management of this industrial sector. This concern is mainly due to the environmental impact of the discharge of its wastewaters, carrying heavy loads of salinity, nutrients, organic matter, solids and oils and fats. These discharges must meet increasingly stringent quality requirements. Some physicochemical (e.g. coagulation-flocculation, precipitation, oxidation) and biological (e.g. aerobic and anaerobic bioreactors and wetlands) treatments have been studied to address this problem. However, these treatments involve costs that some producers cannot sustain, face difficulties with biological reactor operational stability and often fail to consistently produce effluents compatible with discharge standards. In this context, aiming at the design of a simple and economical treatment method, several precipitation processes were tested using a fixed dosage of CaCO3 (75 g/L), combined with different dosages of FeCl3, FeSO4 or Ca(OH)2. The goal of the treatment was to produce a supernatant that would be evaluated as to its suitability for discharge into natural water courses or municipal treatment systems, or for reuse applications. The generated sludge would be evaluated for possible agricultural valorization. Through the measurement of the relevant supernatant quality parameters and using statistical analysis, it was possible to choose the best dosages for each of the tested coagulants (1.0, 1.0 and 0.6 g/L for FeCl3, FeSO4 and Ca(OH)2, respectively). Among these, the most efficient treatment was obtained with CaCO3 75 g/L + FeSO4 1.0 g/L. For this best-case scenario, the treatment led to removal yield values of 55.1% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 92.0% for total phosphorus, 95.7% for turbidity, 59.1% for total phenols, 94.3% for nitrates, 71.0% for nitrites, 51.0% for total solids (TS) and 97.2% for oils and fats. The treatment did not produce an effluent supernatant with adequate quality for direct discharge into water courses, serving however as an efficient pretreatment for agricultural reuse. All the sludges generated in these treatments showed good potential for agricultural valorization due to their high nutrient content, along with pH and conductivity values within the acceptable ranges for soil application. Thus, this work contributes for a better integration of the cheese manufacturing industry in the overall aims of water and nutrient resources recovery in rural, agricultural areas.

Challenges and Recommendations for Improving Chemistry Education and Teaching in the Republic of North Macedonia

The study aims to present the development of education in North Macedonia from the country’s independence to the present day, as documented in several national reports and other official documents. The focus is on development and changes in chemistry education throughout the years of primary, secondary and higher education. Particular attention is devoted to the introduction of the new curricula of natural sciences courses in primary education, which is an adapted curricula of the Cambridge International Examinations, and the use of information and communication technology in increasing the efficiency of the education system. Despite numerous reforms over the years, the country is still faced with various challenges and issues regarding chemistry teaching. Investment in education is constantly decreasing and no notable improvements in conditions for teaching chemistry are being made. Recommendations are made regarding the need for appropriately educated, qualified and motivated teaching staff, well-equipped laboratories and teaching resources, continuous professional development of teachers, mutual cooperation of all stakeholders in the educational process, and continuous support from the authorities and policy makers for gifted pupils and chemistry teachers at all levels.

KETERAMPILAN PROSES SAINS PADA PRAKTIKUM IPA MATERI ASAM BASA PADA MAHASISWA PGMI IAIN PALU

The purpose of this study was to describe the science process skills of students of PGMI FTIK IAIN Palu on the science laboratory of Asam Basa. This research is a descriptive study conducted at the PGMI Study Program in September to October 2019. The research subjects were students of semester 3 of PGMI in the academic year 2019/2020 who took 28 natural science courses. Data in the form of students' Science Process Skills were obtained from the student performance appraisal in the science practicum on acid-base material. The results showed that students' science process skills varied in each category. For the category of skills using tools and materials, the average percentage for the 2 indicators is 83.05% or very high. For the category of observation skills, the average percentage for the two indicators is 83% or very high. For the grouping / classification skills category, the average percentage for the 2 indicators is 79% or in the high category. Whereas for communication skills where in this category there are 3 indicators with an average indicator of 82.5 or very high. Overall by averaging the percentage of all indicators obtained the percentage for science process skills in science lab, wet acid material is 82%. This shows that the science process skills of PGMI students are very high.

A computational fluid dynamics analysis of a patient with acute non-A-non-B aortic dissection after type I hybrid arch repair

The clinical presentation and natural courses in acute non-A-non-B aortic dissection (AD) are quite different from classical acute type A or type B AD, and the benefit of hybrid technique for this clinical scenario has not been validated. By using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, we aim to investigate a series of hemodynamic-related changes in aortic morphology in a patient who underwent type I hybrid arch repair (HAR). Computed tomographic angiographies (preoperative, one week, one month and one year after HAR) of a 52-year old male patient with arch-entry type acute non-A-non-B dissection were collected. Three-dimensional models were reconstructed by using an image processing package Mimics (materialize). Morphological and hemodynamic parameters of aorta and its branch vessels were analysed. Post-operatively, the false lumen index (FLI) gradually decreased from 2.02 to 0.38 and the curvature of the aortic arch was also reduced. However, the aortic arch lengthened and the diameter of the distal abdominal aorta expanded. In addition, the blood flow gradually became organised and the pressure in the true lumen (TL) increased over time and eventually approximated the pressure in the false lumen (FL). Moreover, the region of the abnormal wall shear stress (WSS) in the TL progressively decreased while the WSS in most areas of the FL remained below 4 dyne/cm2. The blood supply to most of the aortic branches returned to normal at the one-year follow-up. Type I HAR is an effective procedure for patients with acute non-A-non-B aortic dissection in terms of restoring normal blood flow in TL and facilitating positive remodeling of distal aorta. Long-term surveillance and follow-up is mandatory.

CD4+ T cell responses in human viral infection: lessons from hepatitis C.

Liver disease as a result of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global problem. While some HCV infections resolve spontaneously, viral persistence associates with compromised T cell immunity. In this issue of the JCI, Chen et al. and Coss et al. explored virus-specific CD4+ T cell response during HCV infection. Both studies evaluated the HCV-specific T cells of patients with different courses of infection. Chen et al. revealed that initial CD4+ T cell responses are similar during early infection and that T cell failure resulted from loss of the virus-specific T cells themselves. Coss et al. showed that HCV-specific CD4+ T cells temporarily recovered in some women following childbirth. These studies contribute to our understanding of CD4+ T cell functionality during different natural courses of infection, with the notable implication that restoring CD4+ T cell immunity might contribute to controlling HCV infection.

Imbalance of Gut Streptococcus, Clostridium, and Akkermansia Determines the Natural Course of Atopic Dermatitis in Infant.

PurposeThe roles of gut microbiota on the natural course of atopic dermatitis (AD) are not yet fully understood. We investigated whether the composition and function of gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) at 6 months of age could affect the natural course of AD up to 24 months in early childhood.MethodsFecal samples from 132 infants were analyzed using pyrosequencing, including 84 healthy controls, 22 transient AD and 26 persistent AD subjects from the Cohort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and Allergic Diseases (COCOA) birth cohort. The functional profile of the gut microbiome was analyzed by whole-metagenome sequencing. SCFAs were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.ResultsLow levels of Streptococcus and high amounts of Akkermansia were evident in transient AD cases, and low Clostridium, Akkermansia and high Streptococcus were found in children with persistent AD. The relative abundance of Streptococcus positively correlated with scoring of AD (SCORAD) score, whereas that of Clostridium negatively correlated with SCORAD score. The persistent AD group showed decreased gut microbial functional genes related to oxidative phosphorylation compared with healthy controls. Butyrate and valerate levels were lower in transient AD infants compared with healthy and persistent AD infants.ConclusionsCompositions, functions and metabolites of the early gut microbiome are related to natural courses of AD in infants.

Natural courses and prognostic factors of pulmonary underdevelopment except for congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Purpose: Pulmonary underdevelopment is one of the pulmonary causes of neonatal mortality, which is categorized into pulmonary agenesis, pulmonary aplasia, and pulmonary hypoplasia. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a well-known cause of pulmonary hy poplasia; however, further studies are needed for other etiologies. Patients with pulmonary underdevelopment show varying de grees of clinical severity. Most patients with pulmonary underdevelopment have respiratory distress at birth, while a few have only mild symptoms. Our study investigated the natural course and prognosis of pulmonary underdevelopment by analyzing multiple cases from a single tertiary medical center. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on patients diagnosed with pulmonary hypoplasia and agenesis from January 2000 to August 2019. Cases were extracted from the clinical database of Seoul National University Children’s Hospital by searching for keywords related to pulmonary underdevelopment. Results: A total of 28 patients were identified. Four patients had pulmonary agenesis, and all were idiopathic. Twenty-four patients had evidence of pulmonary hypoplasia with diverse causes. The median age at diagnosis was 11.5 days (range, 1-240 days) and the mean gestational age was 35 weeks 2 days±3 weeks 6 days. Twenty patients received ventilator care and 11 had various degrees of pulmonary hypertension. The long-term survival rate was 50%. The median age of death among pulmonary hypoplasia patients were 11 days (range, 1-730 days). All patients without ventilator care survived. The incidence of ventilator care, pneumothorax, and pulmonary hypertension were significantly higher among patients who died. Conclusion: The prognosis of pulmonary underdevelopment depends on the severity of respiratory distress and pulmonary hyper tension in earlier life. Patients with severe distress appear to have severe degree of pulmonary hypoplasia. Patients without ventila tor support in the neonatal period survived without significant morbidities. (Allergy Asthma Respir Dis 2020;8:206-212)

Natural History of Meningiomas: Review with Meta-analyses.

Observation has been a mainstay in asymptomatic meningiomas, but it may increase the risk associated with treatment due to tumor enlargement and the aging of patients. Understanding the natural course of meningiomas is important to provide appropriate treatment. The majority of previous studies investigated factors related to their growth, but failed to demonstrate their relationship with symptomatic progression (sympP) because of its rarity. We reviewed and meta-analyzed 27 studies that investigated natural courses in asymptomatic or untreated meningiomas to find clinico-radiological factors predictive of radiological progression (radioP), growth speed, and sympP. In results of time-growth analysis, two-thirds of meningiomas showed radioP defined by a volume criterion and the rate approached a plateau at 4–5 years. In growth curve analyses, about half of incidental meningiomas presented decelerating or no growth, while less than one-quarter of them grew exponentially. RadioP, growth speed [annual volume change (AVC) or relative growth rate], and sympP each had different factors related to them. Younger age, non-calcification, and high intensity on T2-weighted image were related to radioP and rapid growth speed, but not to sympP. Tumors in males and those of larger size were likely to be symptomatic in the meta-analysis. AVC (≥2.1 cm3/year) was the strongest indicator of sympP. Apart from perifocal edema, radiological features at up-front imaging may not be useful for predicting sympP. This may be due to dynamic changes of those radiological markers in the long term. Quantified tumor size and growth speed, especially AVC, are important markers for deciding on treatment.

Drawn to natural history: Enhancing field courses with drawing and field journal instruction

AbstractDrawing is a long‐standing tool in the natural sciences, but training in this skill set has lapsed. We describe the impacts of field sketching instruction on the teaching practices of faculty and the experiences of students in two sections of a freshman‐level course on natural history. We examine self‐reported data from participating faculty and students. We focus on their perspectives of drawing and natural history practices before and after drawing training and a field journal requirement. Faculty reported positive shifts in their views of the value and feasibility of incorporating drawing in their courses. We observed positive shifts in students’ attitudes about drawing and appreciation of nature, as indicated by students’ field journal entries and survey responses. Given the sample size (n = 26 students, n = 2 faculty), our ability to draw inference is constrained. Thus, we present these results to provide context for the overall process of efforts to integrate drawing more fully into natural science courses. For university instructors interested in incorporating drawing into their natural science courses, we also provide advice rooted in the literature and best practices of art‐science integration. Our results suggest that on‐going, artist‐facilitated training for faculty and students can enhance the experience of using drawing in natural history courses and reconnect natural scientists at all career levels to drawing as a valuable, professional tool.

Pupils' attitude to school geography and motivational factors of its study

The purpose of the article is to diagnose the attitude of pupils to geography classes at general educational institutions and identify the main motivating factors of its learning, depending on the pupils’ age and place of residence. Main material. The diagnosis of motives for studying geography was preceded by a clarification of the attitude of pupils to this subject. Pupils were asked to name their favourite school subjects and the results of the survey were used to calculate the rating of disciplines. For sixth-graders in rural and urban schools, geography ranked first, for seventh– and eighth-graders, and for rural ninth- and tenth-graders, it ranked second. For city ninth- and tenth-graders, geography took third place in the ranking of school subjects. The article presents the rating of school geography among other subjects on the basis of a questionnaire survey conducted in 2018/2019 academic year among 1163 respondents, who are the pupils of 6-11 grades at general educational institutions in Lviv region. The research analyzes positive and negative motivational factors of learning geography, depending on age and place of pupils’ residence. The results are interpreted in the context of the popular theory of self-determination developed by E. Deci and R. Ryan. Conclusions and further research. The research, conducted among the pupils studying geography at school, in a particular region of Ukraine, showed the highest rating of this subject among other school disciplines and the positive attitude towards it (more than 75% of the pupils who participated in the study). The degree of interest in geography is affected by the age of the pupils and the type of area in which the pupils live: the highest rank of favourable attitude to the subject was shown by rural pupils and pupils who are studying natural courses of the discipline (grades 6–7). The leading factors of a positive attitude to geography depend on the content of this subject and modern forms of studying it, which ultimately contributes to the formation of internal motivation for cognition. The results of an empirical study can be used to develop psychological, pedagogical and methodological models for teaching geography in different classes of general educational institutions.

ІНТЕГРАТИВНИЙ ПІДХІД В ШКІЛЬНІЙ ПРИРОДНИЧІЙ ОСВІТІ

The article examines the current problems of implementing an integrative approach in school natural science education. The terminological definition of the concepts “integrated” and “integrative” has been clarified. “Integrated” is used to define the state which has undergone the action of integration, a holistic, without internal contradictions, set from the outside. In this sense, we propose to use the terms integrated course, integrated lesson, integrated task, integrated knowledge, integrated content. “Integrative” is one that is about integration, a unifying process that is realized through the means of integration. In this sense, we consider the integrative approach as a means of integrating knowledge, content, activities, organizational forms of learning, as well as integrative learning technologies.We have studied the practice of implementing the integrative approach in school natural science education. The following contradictions were revealed. Researchers have proved the effectiveness of the introduction of integrated natural science courses, the need to develop comprehensive curricula in natural science subjects on the basis of a single educational field of state standard, the importance of forming a holistic (integrated) knowledge, scientific worldview. However, the lack of specialists, natural science teaching methods makes it difficult to implement the integrative approach.In today's information society, changes in the philosophy of education, the issue of the integrative approach in school natural science education is gaining new meaning. The implementation of the integrative approach in natural science education is carried out at several levels: as a whole in the system of general secondary education, which determines the role and place of natural science education in it as a component; in the system of natural science education itself, which determines its structure, provides intersectoral and interdisciplinary links, the “core” of natural science content, the general methodology of teaching natural science subjects; in teaching natural science subjects / integrated courses, which provides intra-logical connections, ways and methods of integrating knowledge and skills.

ГОТОВНІСТЬ УЧИТЕЛЯ ДО РЕАЛІЗАЦІЇ ІНТЕГРАТИВНОГО ПІДХОДУ В ШКІЛЬНІЙ ПРИРОДНИЧІЙ ОСВІТІ

The article considers the problem of preparing a teacher of natural sciences for the implementation of an integrative approach in the system of school natural sciences education. The integrative approach has been identified as one of the leading ones at the current stage of reforming general secondary education in Ukraine. In the system of school natural sciences education, this approach is realized through the integration of content - teaching integrated natural sciences courses, solving complex and combined problems, interdisciplinary and intersectoral integration of forms of learning - holding educational projects, integrated lessons, extracurricular activities. For teachers of natural sciences, the problem of implementing the integrative approach is related to professional training. Until recently, in the system of training teachers of natural sciences, there was a division, inherent in industrial society, into physical-mathematical and natural sciences. As a result, there are no specialists who can teach all natural sciences, or an integrated course that combines biology, geography, physics and chemistry. Only in 2018, a new specialty was introduced in the system of professional training - a teacher of natural sciences, physics, chemistry, biology. We studied educational and professional programs of the new specialty. A survey of students and teachers was conducted. Based on the analysis, it was found that for high-quality training of teachers to implement the integrative approach in school education it is necessary to develop additional disciplines for students' choice, such as "Methods of studying natural sciences subjects at school based on the integrative approach", “Universal scientific picture of the world – methodology of natural sciences". Moreover, such courses should be implemented not only in the specialty 014. Secondary education (Natural Sciences), but also in certain specializations: physics, chemistry, biology, geography. Due to the new philosophy of education of the XXI century, the requirements for teachers are changing. The teacher of natural sciences must be deeply acquainted with the current state of natural sciences, their practical significance for sustainable development. Be able to independently develop programs and select educational and methodological support to achieve mandatory learning outcomes. Help students in self-determination and in the development of values. Constantly improve the own professional competence.

How Can We Know Wai-Horotiu—A Buried River? Cross-cultural Ethics and Civic Art

The complex interactions and ruptures between contemporary settler colonialism, environmental ethics, and Indigenous rights and worldviews often emerge in projects of civil engineering. The continued capture, control and burial of natural water courses in Aotearoa-New Zealand is a case in point, and exemplifies a failure to stay abreast of evolving understandings and renewed relationships we seek with our waterways, our ancestors. Wai-Horotiu stream used to run down what is now Queen Street, the main road in Auckland, Aotearoa-New Zealand’s largest city. Treasured by Māori as a source of wai (water) and mahinga kai (food), it is also the home of Horotiu, a taniwha or ancestral guardian—a literal ‘freshwater body’. However, as Tāmaki-Makaurau transitioned into Auckland city, Wai-Horotiu became denigrated; used as an open sewer by early settlers before being buried alive in the colonial process. How, now, can we know this buried waterway? Te Awa Tupua Act 2017 that affords the Whanganui River juristic personality and moral considerability offers one possible solution. It acknowledges that waterways, incorporating all their physical and metaphysical elements, exist in existential interlinks with Māori as part of their whakapapa (genealogical networks). This paper asks, can a corresponding and appropriate ethics of association and care be fostered in and expressed by the political descendants of British settlers (Pākehā) and later immigrants who live here under the auspices established by Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840? Here is a conversation between a Māori earth systems scientist and a Pākehā interdisciplinary scholar. Where Hikuroa speaks from and to direct whakapapa connections, beginning with pepeha, Lythberg’s narrative springboards from public art projects that facilitate more ways of knowing Wai-Horotiu. Together, we contend that a regard for Indigenous relationships with water can guide best practice for us all, and propose that creative practices can play a role in attaching people to place, and to waterways.

How did that get there? Understanding sediment transport and accumulation rates in agricultural landscapes using the ESTTraP agent-based model

The 15th–18th century CE site of Engaruka in Tanzania is often described as primarily comprising drystone agricultural terraces, but it is now known that many of these former farming plots are not terraces per se, but are instead sediment traps. Stratigraphic excavations of these traps show that they were built by constructing low drystone walls adjacent to either natural or artificial water courses in order to capture fine alluvial sediments entrained within water flows. In the northern area of the site sediments were accumulated to a depth of up to 700 mm, while in one area in the south of the site over 2 m of deposits were accumulated over at least a 300 year period. The presence of sediment traps on archaeological sites allows investigations of the efficacy and sustainability of these structures over decadal to centennial timescales, since stratigraphic excavations can define the process of construction, and geoarchaeological analyses can explore changes within accumulated sediments over time. Although a combination of stratigraphy and absolute dating can discern the broad sequence and timing of sediment capture they cannot determine sediment-accumulation rates, and these techniques are too time consuming to be used to map the development of over 9 km2 of sediment traps. The ESTTraP agent-based model provides these data by simulating sediment accumulation under different hydrological conditions. Four scenarios were simulated for a period of 100 years: constant water availability (SIM-01), seasonal variability (SIM-02), long-term climate variability (SIM- 03), and vegetation-cover impact (SIM-04). The model results suggest that the fields can be constructed over a short period of time, approximately 1–3 months per 6 × 6 m field, and that to construct a block of 90 fields covering 3,000 m2 it would take between 8 and 13 years in periods of high water availability, and up to 27 years during prolonged dry periods. The results define the amount of time needed to construct individual fields, and suggest that farmers constructed blocks of fields concurrently rather than sequentially expanding across the landscape, and that the c. 10 km2 area of sediment traps at Engaruka could have been constructed by a number of households working independently. The ESTTraP model presents an important resource in the assessment of sediment dynamics and patterns of field development, is relevant to a range of archaeological sites worldwide that include intentional or unintentional alluvial deposition, and has applications for modern landscape management.