‘Hands-on’ approach

High school pupils Shanae Forbes (15, left), of Roxburgh, and Liam Nelson (15) and Celeste Lane (17), both of Auckland, find their way around the University of Otago campus during the first day of the "Hands-on" programme yesterday.

The programme began with an "amazing race" challenge for the 392 participants, in which they had to explore the university grounds to answer a series of questions.

They will participate in 36 projects over the week.

Programme co-ordinator Sandra Copeland said the initiative was meant to show teenagers how much fun they could have in further study.

It is the 29th year of the programme, originally called Hands-on Science.