The Human Library
Have you ever wanted to hear about scientific research directly from a Scientist?
Gain knowledge by talking to someone with first-hand experience?
Why not borrow a scientist from our human library?
Browse our selection of 'human books' below
Dr Kaitlyn Martin
Dr Kaitlyn Martin is a Pukenga Lecturer of STEM Education at Te Kaupeka Ako Faculty of Education at Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha, the University of Canterbury. Kaitlyn is a science educator, researcher, and communicator who has worked with students from ECE all the way up to tertiary levels in STEM. Her interests span formal and informal science learning experiences with a special passion for the areas of biology, astronomy, and digital technologies. Her research aims to develop our understanding of how to improve STEM attitudes, literacy, and aspirations in a world in need of informed, active and critical citizens. She recently went on an expedition to the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia as a the Royal Society Te Apārangi Inspiring Explorer with the Antarctic Heritage Trust.
Vanesa De Pietri
Vanesa De Pietri is a palaeontologist, orthinologist, and evolutionary biologist researching the diversity of vertebrate animals that lived in Aotearoa New Zealand millions of years ago. She uses analytical methods applied to the fossil record to shed light on the adaptations and transformations that have shaped the remarkable diversity of birds we see today. Her work focuses on understanding the intricate evolutionary relationships between avian species, tracing their lineage through time, and evaluating the effect of shifting environmental conditions driven by climate fluctuations between 66 and 2.5 million years ago on the evolutionary trajectory of bird lineages.
Melissa Boo (She/Her)
Melissa is a PhD student at The University of Canterbury, researching well-being in climate change education. She is an environmental educator from New York City. Most recently, she taught undergraduate ecology courses at Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts. Her background also includes roles in wind and solar power start ups, as well as a nonprofit farm. Melissa is happy to talk about all things sustainability and how to make environmental education more empowering, both for teachers and learners.
Amelia Threadgould (she/her)
Amelia is a PhD candidate at the University of Canterbury, investigating how our identities influence engagement in community food initiatives. Exploring factors that drive individuals motivation and dedication to such projects could pave the way to understanding how to nurture a sense of identity linked to food production. As a high school teacher from the UK, Amelia is interested in integrating food-growing skills into the curriculum to re-establish a connection with the land and where food comes from, promote healthier dietary choices, address food insecurity, and ultimately reduce the impact our current food systems have on the environment.
Paula Jameson
Paula is a PhD graduate of the University of Canterbury, and a retired professor from the School of Biological Sciences at UC. She has lectured at all levels in topics including plant physiology and plant biotechnology, as well as giving numerous public talks on genetic modification and gene editing. Her research lab focused on understanding the growth and development of plants - particularly of food plants. She has supervised many post graduate students who have since gone on to careers in plant science related areas.
Catherine Reid
Catherine is a palaeontologist and loves anything to do with fossils, and the application of fossils to understanding Earth history. My current research interests include the New Zealand geological histories and development of, and the human impacts on, modern estuaries and waterways that I investigate through microfossil and sediment records. Deeper in geological time, I also research the evolution and ecology of Palaeozoic bryozoans and their response to changing ocean chemistry and palaeogeography. Catherine has worked in Tasmania, the Canadian Arctic and throughout New Zealand and loves any excuse to get out in the field.
Sara Kross
Sara is a conservation biologist and works on understanding the interactions between wildlife and people, especially in human-dominated systems like farms and cities. She incorporates methods ranging from animal behaviour to remote sensing to molecular tools to describe animal diet and works on birds, mammals, insects and people. Sara is also mum to two awesome kids.
Meghan Marshall
Meghan is a PhD student at Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha, the University of Canterbury. Working accross both the School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, she is studying a group of bacteria found only in Aotearoa - New Zealand hot springs. Prior to moving to Christchurch, Meghan obtained her Honours Bachelor of Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver studying biotechnology. While in Canada, Meghan performed research about genetically modifying plants, developing new pharmaceuticals, remediating oil spills with microbes, and making solar cells with bacterial proteins. She is happy to talk about all things biology and biotechnology!
Alexandra Cox
Alex is a Biology PhD student studying the genetics of pathogens. Her main research interests are bioinformatics, molecular genetics, plant biology and conservation. Her thesis work focuses on the fungi-like oomycete, Phytophthora cinnamomi and the identification of the genes responsible for its descructive nature. She also did all her tertiary education at the University of Canterbury and is happy to answer any questions about being a STEM student in NZ.
Katherine Pedley
Dr Kate Pedley's expertise and research is in structural geology, geomorphology and landscape evolution (in both marine and onshore settings), tectonics and earthquakes, field mapping and 3D visualisation, geoscience education. She is heavily involved with the fault rupture mapping teams for both the Christchurch and Kaikoura Earthquakes. Kate is also an avid photographer and passionate about inspiring people into geology through her photographs.
Sarah Seeley
Sarah is a restoration and pollination ecologist. I carried out my research at the University of Canterbury, completing my Master of Science in Biology focusing on the recolonisation of native insect pollinators to restored areas of native plantings. Sarah's study area was the various native plantings reinstated accross the last 25 years by the Christchurch City Council accross the Port Hills. She looked at the roles of native and introduced plant and insect species within interaction networks to determine what leads to the greatest biodiversity outcomes. This has led Sarah to a deeper understanding of biodiversity and restoration as well as community ecology and statistics, which she is happy to talk on further.
Carolynne Hultquist
Carolynne Hultquist is a Lecturer in Spatial Data Science in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury. She develops computational approaches to integrate and validate data on physical and human systems for decision making. A core aspect of her research is the evaluation of citizen-generated data to improve environments at local scales. She recieved her PhD in Geography and Social Data Analytics from Pennsylvania state university as part of the Geoinformatics and Earth Observation Lab. Teaching students to analyse spatial data using Python and R programming to inform on global challenges is one of the most rewarding parts of her work.