The Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize has been won by Associate Professor Nic Rawlence from the University of Otago, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.

Motivated to inspire the next generation of scientists and their teachers, Assoc Prof Rawlence not only works to understand prehistoric ecosystems – he also communicates his discoveries through a range of channels, from social media to educational resources.

He is a prolific blogger and commentator on topics ranging from the genetic code of moa to the latest fossil discoveries.

He also takes on the role of ‘fact checker’ for controversial topics like de-extinction and genetic modification, adding scientific evidence to these global conversations.

 

Read media release about Nic’s Prize

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Assoc Prof Rawlence is a palaeogeneticist and directs the Ancient Ecology Lab at the University.

His team reconstructs prehistoric ecosystems – whether they are hundreds of years or tens of millions of years old.

‘Reconstructing’ an ecosystem means identifying what the environment looked like in the past, what lived there, and how those organisms interacted before they disappeared.

His team studies how these ecosystems functioned and how they responded to our dynamic geological, climatic, and human history.

They then use this information about the past to help inform the future, providing evidence-based advice on conservation management for a fast-changing world.

Assoc Prof Rawlence hosts public events about the work his lab does, and sees science communication as a way of giving back to the community and inspiring the next generation.

He works with schools and educators to provide professional development and a range of resources for teaching.

He also sees his role as a science communicator as filling the gaps in news where complex conversations are needed at a societal level.

He regularly comments on controversial scientific topics, acting as ‘critic and conscience’ to correct misinformation and disinformation.

 

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