Michelle Emma Dickinson MNZM, also known as Nanogirl, is a nanotechnologist and science educator based in New Zealand.
Michelle Dickinson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Other names | Nanogirl |
| Citizenship | New Zealand/UK |
| Alma mater | Biomedical Engineering and Ceramic and Materials Science and Engineering, Rutgers University |
| Awards | Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Blake Medal |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | nanotechnology, science education |
| Thesis | Surface variations affecting human dental enamel studied using nanomechanical and chemical analysis (2005) |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editDickinson grew up in Hong Kong, the USA, and the United Kingdom.[1] She had a grandmother from Malta, a grandfather who was English, and a Hong Kong Chinese mother.[2] Her father was an English-Maltese soldier.[3]
She displayed skills in computer coding by the time she was eight years old.[4][2] Dickinson completed a Masters' in Engineering at the University of Manchester and a PhD in Biomedical Materials Engineering at Rutgers University.[1][2]
Professional life
editDickinson was a senior lecturer (2009-2018) in Chemical and Material Engineering at Auckland University, and an associate investigator at the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.[5]
Nanogirl
editOn the advice of a speaking coach, she invented the alter-ego "Nanogirl" as a way to overcome her nerves.[6] Initially Dickinson used the name "Nanogirl" to write a science blog, then as it became more popular she started a YouTube channel and began to speak at schools and events.[6] She has regular speaking slots on radio and television and is invited to events such as TED conferences.[2] In December 2016, Dickinson delivered a live, theatrical science experiment show titled “Little Bang, Big Bang” in towns, cities and schools around New Zealand during a 3-week tour of the country.[7]
Charity work
editDickinson co-founded the charity OMGTech in 2014 with Vaughan Rowsell and Rab Heath to provide children of all ages and backgrounds access to learning opportunities about technology.[8] Sessions involve hands-on learning of 3D-printing, coding, robotics and science.[9] The charity also supports teachers in low-decile schools to gain confidence in using technology in their teaching.[1] In October 2016, Dickinson resigned from her position at OMG Tech to concentrate on her Nanogirl activities.[10]
Clothes design
editIn 2015, Dickinson collaborated with the New Zealand clothing company Icebreaker, a technical designer and a printer to produce a line of dresses featuring science and technology-related designs.[11]
Writer
editIn 2017, Dickinson wrote No.8 Re-Charged, a book about world-changing innovations from New Zealand.[12] In 2018, she wrote The Kitchen Science Cookbook, a book showcasing science experiments that can be done in the kitchen.[13]
Awards and recognition
edit- Prime Minister's Science Communication Award, 2014[14]
- New Zealand Association of Scientists' Science Communicators Award, 2014[15]
- Sir Peter Blake Leadership, 2015[1]
- Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to science, 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours[2][16]
- Royal Society of New Zealand's Callaghan Medal, 2015[17]
- New Zealand Women of Influence Award for Innovation and Science, 2016[18]
- One of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's "150 women in 150 words" in 2017, celebrating the contributions of women to knowledge in New Zealand.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Michelle Dickinson MNZM". Sir Peter Blake Trust. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Michelle Dickinson: Scientist, adventurer, charity founder". Inspiring Women. Ministry for Women. 3 August 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ "Michelle Dickinson: "There is a little girl out there, nine weeks old ... she is genetically half mine"". www.noted.co.nz. 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
- ^ "'Nanogirl' Michelle Dickinson wins Blake Leader Award". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "Dr Michelle Dickinson". MacDiarmid Institute. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ a b "'Nano Girl' to take on TEDx". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "Making science happen with Nanogirl's 'Big Bang Little Bang' Live Tour". 2 December 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Who Are We". OMGTech!. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "2015 Callaghan Medal: Nanogirl recognised for exciting young people about science". Royal Society of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "OMGTECH! ANNOUNCES NEW STRUCTURE AND A FRIENDLY FAREWELL TO A CO-FOUNDER". OMGTech!. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ "Dresses for Science and Tech loving women!". Sciblogs. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "No.8 Re-charged by David Downs". www.penguin.co.nz. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "The Kitchen Science Cookbook". www.whitcoulls.co.nz. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Previous winners". The Prime Minister's Science Prizes. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "New Zealand Association of Scientists Awards 2014" (PDF). New Zealand Association of Scientists. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2015". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
- ^ "2015 Callaghan Medal: Nanogirl recognised for exciting young people about science". Royal Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "Women of Influence winners". Stuff. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
- ^ "Michelle Dickinson". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 10 May 2021.