Peter Russell Spratt  (1950-2007)

It is with deepest regret that we have to report the untimely and sudden death of Peter Spratt on 9 August 2007.

Peter had been Senior Manager,: Science and Education at the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ) since 1994.  He had been responsible for the promotion and support of science, technology education, and the promotion and public understanding of science and technology. This he did effectively in his quiet and inspiring manner.

Peter graduated from Auckland University in 1974 with an M.Sc Hons in Geology, the same year he gained his Diploma in Teaching. He followed up his love of teaching with a Diploma of Education from Massey University in 1982, which he completed while Head of Science at Wesley College and where he taught secondary school science with the same dedication and vigour he applied to all his life’s work.

It soon became apparent that the outdoors was Peter’s favourite laboratory.  He needed no textbook –outside the classroom he was a maestro at awakening curiosity in his students, and encouraging them to develop scientific skills, knowledge and understanding.

Throughout his career Peter never lost interest in geology and would use his regular plane or car trips to view and interpret the geological landscape of New Zealand.

He also had a love of agriculture and horticulture that stemmed from his childhood where he grew up on the family farm at Te Puke and later Pukekawa.  But they were no longer popular subjects due to a massive shift in science education. However, Peter embraced the changes while staying true to his fundamental values and beliefs.

Peter wrote and published a teacher’s newsletter for four years called ‘The Clod’. Later he revised and renamed it ‘The Gumboot Gazette’. Both titles reflect Peter’s always impish sense of humour!

In 1993/94 he was appointed National Chief Examiner School Certificate Marker for Horticulture and became very involved, as part of a small team, preparing national syllabus guidelines and teaching resources on Agriculture across the Curriculum for the Department of Education.

For relaxation Peter continued to propagate, grow and harvest crops, a lifetime love that is reflected today in the horticulture delight that he, with his wife Berys, have created at Mangaroa. He was always bringing into the office dahlias, roses, great bags of beans and tomatoes to share.

As a Visiting Lecturer at North Dakota State University, and later at Moorhead State University at Minnesota in 1989, Peter not only lectured and demonstrated but also found time to fulfil his Research Fellowship on Quaternary Beetles. Naturally on his return to New Zealand he became involved in Bioblitz research field trips which he managed to fit in with all his other commitments.

In 1987 Peter was appointed Head of Department Science, at Heretaunga College, where he established and led the Upper Hutt Science Network. He also introduced to the school and region Science and Technology Fairs, and also involved local primary schools for the first time.

Peter was an advocate of students learning by doing and field trips and laboratory practices became a feature of his teaching. He also made full use of the AgResearch Animal Research Centre – conveniently located over the back fence of Heretaunga College.  This led to Peter becoming a key figure in the Centre’s ‘Search Education Outside the Classroom’ Programme; to which he devoted his expertise and advice for ten years.

Peter joined Teacher Support Services in Wellington as a School Science Adviser in 1991 working with teachers to implement the Science in the New Zealand Curriculum. He then joined the Royal Society in 1994, where in just over 12 years Peter consolidated and greatly expanded the role and influence of the Education Section of the RSNZ. He led a small, but dedicated, team whose purpose was to promote science and technology education.

His stewardship of the New Zealand Sciences, Mathematics and Technology Teacher Fellowship Scheme, since its inception, ensured that from an initial intake of a few teachers it has now grown to involve approximately 60 teachers annually.  And this became possible because Peter worked tirelessly with the relevant Ministries to ensure funds were available for the fellowships, for which his accountability and reporting were exemplary.

Likewise Peter took the National Science and Technology Fair to new heights. His dream was to rebrand it as ‘Realise the Dream’, a prestigious RSNZ national event which recognised and rewarded students who had achieved excellence in science and technological practice.  And it has worked like a dream!

But this was not enough for Peter because he soon realised that there was little follow-up for the students involved.  So Peter initiated the establishment of a database of interested students from age thirteen through to tertiary level. There are now 1600 students receiving regular monthly newsletters.  It is very probable this is where our future leaders and Nobel Prize winners will come from, and also perhaps from some of Peter’s former students.

Nationally Peter was instrumental in formulating the Code of Animal Ethics in association with other agencies and teachers. He was a highly valued member of the Animals in Schools Education Trust, and a member of the Carter Observatory Education Committee.

He was the Executive Officer of the NZ Association of Science Educators and worked with the editor of the NZ Science Teacher Journal, as well as managing the highly regarded Alpha and Gamma series of publications.

He was the President-elect of the International Association of Science Educators (ICASE) and was to become the President later this year.

Peter was a regular delegate at the biennial SCICON Conferences, and at the separate science and technology conferences.  He enjoyed presenting papers at these conferences and, regardless of the topic, Peter was always assured a large audience such was his rapport with teachers and his skill as a presenter.

However, Peter never spared himself.  He was available day or night should someone need to contact him.  And although calls on his time were many, Peter’s advice, wise counsel and encouragement was always much appreciated. And he was often seen heading home with two carry-on luggage bags of ‘homework’. But there was always time to buy a few bales of straw and yet another plant for their much loved and magnificent garden! 

Peter leaves a legacy of awards for both teachers and students in science and technology education.

He will be remembered by us all for his devotion to work, his quiet, self-effacing but passionate manner, his ability to relate and communicate with others, his mentoring, his leadership, and his vision and passion for science and technology education.

On 9 August 2007 Peter died suddenly and is sadly missed.