Outreach &
Teaching
Public engagement
Science not shared might as well not have been done. I always enjoy the opportunity to connect science with what people care about and reveal the beauty of the natural world right under our noses. Here are some of the public-facing communication I have been part of.
An Atom's Eye View - ABC Ockham's Razor Podcast
ABC News article on How carbon materials can improve solar power, green hydrogen and battery technology.
Radio piece on how Carbon is a vital part of our new energy future.
ABC Radio National TOP5 Science Media Residency in 2022.
The Chemical History of a Candle and Structure of an Ember Churchill College 2020
Outreach
It is critical to engage with society so that they can have access to the most up-to-date information and the scientific tools to explore the world.
Developed a low cost colourimeter using LEDs and a light dependent resister to measure nitrates and phosphates in freshwater. (Kits were given to school teachers around NZ for teaching)
This was extended to a fluorimeter able to detect oil pollution in water. (Two different students built such a unit for their science fair)
Part of the not-for-profit ReadAble in Singapore working with children to develop literacy. Designed programmes on drama, poetry, and mental health. Developed Climate Champion course to explain how to engage people on climate change and the Humans of Kukoh instagram account that was turned into a book.
For the 2015 UNESCO year of Light the Photon Factory organised NZ-wide activities for students. https://www.illuminating.nz/ I spent a week in Balclutha with others doing demonstrations for school students in the region. We also sent hundreds of light-based activity packs to kids around NZ.
Part of NZCIS and ISCAST, which aim to improve the dialogue between religion and science (nzcis.org iscast.org). We have been particularly active in combatting misinformation surrounding the pandemic.
Science and Art/Visualisation
Art/Visualisation is an integral part of the scientific process. Working with artists enables new perspectivies on the science as well as more engaging representations for outreach. Here are some of the visualisations I have been part of creating
Virtual reality visualisations of carbon nanomaterials using Nanome software and custom-built software in Unity (Credit: Callum Wood) to view periodic simulations (see Peering into the computational microscope talk).
3D printing to explore disordered carbon materials.
Augmented nanotechnology was a display developed for the Switch Conference 2018 in Singapore. Various 3D nanostructures were visualised using QR codes and augmented reality.
Poetry off the Page was a science-art collaboration between the Department of English and the Photon Factory. We exhibited Ian Wedde's poem laser-inscribed on various common objects in the University of Auckland library and online. https://poetryoffthepage.org.nz/ (back story)
A fractal-inspired leaving gift was 3D printed for a colleague.
Nanoscience art display at Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Conference 2012
Teaching
My motto is to make science visible. My teaching mission is to help people to see science for themselves.
Quantum Chemistry module for second-year physical chemistry course at Curtin University (including an online python laboratory program and 3D visualisations in the lectures)
Advanced Molecular Spectroscopy module for the third-year Analytical Chemistry course at Curtin University
Maths for Chemistry module for second year physical chemistry course at the University of Auckland (including online BestChoice module with online videos).
Ran physical chemistry stream for Maori and Pasifika students through the Tuakana programme, University of Auckland, NZ from 2012 – 2014
Inspiration for my teaching and mentoring
Top 10 Reasons to be a Woman in Science: Cather Simpson at Perimeter Institute
