SCANZ 2024 scholarship recipients

Congratulations to the six recipients of scholarships to attend our SCANZ 2024 conference, held 20-22 November in Tāmaki-Makaurau Auckland.

Ngā mihi nui to SCANZ members whose support allows us to extend this opportunity to our up-and-coming science communicators.

Lucy Brown

I currently work in the agricultural sector for The Whole Story and recently the Agricultural Innovation Degree at University of Otago. Both roles require being able to disseminate science, policy etc. to farmers or students through extension and/or education. My aspiration is to be able to continue to move and grow in this space of communicating science etc. to farmers and others in the sector. This conference will be a huge benefit for me in my early career and provide opportunities to network, learn, and further understand how I can look to influence my sector through science communication.

Lynne Coventry

Lynne is an experienced graphic designer with a journalism and communications degree.

While her work experience has ranged from corporate to not-for-profit, she recently completed an Applied Science diploma and is hoping to grow her science communication and storytelling skills to make data and research more accessible. She is especially interested in breaking knowledge silos and engaging communities to drive innovative and sustainable change.

In her spare time she enjoys exploring rockpools with her preschooler, volunteering at Auckland War Memorial Museum's marine department and learning te reo Māori.

Rachel Dohig

Rachel Kowalchuk Dohig (she/her) is a researcher and writer living in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. With a background in music teaching, English literature and creative writing, Rachel currently works as an Assistant Research Fellow with He Kāinga Oranga | Housing and Health and the NZ Centre for Sustainable Cities Research Programmes at the University of Otago, Wellington. Her current research focuses on youth homelessness and energy poverty and she is passionate about advocating for a housing system that equitably serves Aotearoa. She jokes that she writes formally by day and creatively by night.

Andrew James

Andrew James is a Wellington-based writer and illustrator who likes making complex ideas understandable with words, pictures, video, and humour. Previously a communications meteorologist at MetService and a high school mathematics teacher, he now looks after social media and digital content for the Predator Free New Zealand Trust. Enjoying the serious as well as the silly, Andrew's career highlights include fronting forecast videos in the lead up to Cyclone Gabrielle, and working with Scion researchers on a comic about the smell of possum butts.

Alanah Knibb

Alanah Knibb is a freelance artist and science communicator who specialises in combining art and science through comic books. Her work aims to create space, opportunities, and inspiration to empower communities to utilise science for collective development and social change.

A former neuroscientist, Alanah holds an MSc in Science Communication and Public Engagement from the University of Edinburgh. She has been commissioned by the European Space Agency, South Australia’s MOD. Museum, and the Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge. Most recently, her work has been exhibited at Ars Electronic 2024, Expo 2020 Dubai (held in 2022) and UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Hariklia Nicola

Kia ora, my name is Hariklia (she/her) and I am in my third year working towards a BSc majoring in chemistry and minoring in media and communication. I am passionate about science communication and believe it is important in this age to be able to communicate scientifically accurate information to people in a way which is understandable and digestible. I am also the editor of the student magazine at the University of Canterbury, CANTA, and have pushed for a lot more science journalism within the magazine. I am really excited for the opportunity to attend the SCANZ conference this year!