After eight extraordinary years of bringing science to young people, Global Women member Dr Michelle Dickinson’s global education design company Nanogirl Labs will be closing up at the end of this year.
Founded by Michelle and her husband Joe Davis, Nanogirl Labs worked to inspire creativity, curiosity, and a love of science through theatre shows, educational workshops and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) kits. The social enterprise filled the much-needed role of nurturing scientific talent in underserved children and communities, and its absence will be a great loss to the science community.
One of Aotearoa New Zealand’s best-known scientists, and a prolific advocate for young girls and women in STEM, Michelle has made huge impact through the Nanogirl Labs initiative. More than one million children have taken part in Nanogirl Labs programmes and workshops since its inception, and the company’s popular online content has further fostered scientific curiosity in young people.
In addition to the active role that Nanogirl Labs has taken in providing science and innovation education to New Zealand children, the organisation provided youth with advice on career options and opportunities in science. However, the company’s key revenue sources are no longer available, with the science community at large suffering from government cuts to jobs and science funding across multiple departments.
Michelle and Joe have not taken a salary from the business for the past year, funding all profits back into Nanogirl Labs to keep providing exceptional science education to the community. However, with no funding strategy or plan in sight from government, they have made the difficult decision to liquidate the business after Christmas.
We commend Michelle for her contributions to innovation and science in Aotearoa New Zealand, and to nurturing curiosity, creativity and a love for STEM in young people throughout the community.
Listen to Dr Michelle Dickinson share the story with Kathryn Ryan over at RNZ.