Science Communication Prize won for “myth busting”
MEDIA RELEASE: TE PUIAKI WHAKAPĀ PŪTAIAO SCIENCE COMMUNICATION PRIZE
The Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize has been won by Associate Professor Nic Rawlence from the University of Otago, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka.
A palaeogeneticist, Assoc Prof Rawlence directs the Ancient Ecology Lab in the University’s Department of Zoology.
His team reconstructs prehistoric ecosystems – whether they are hundreds of years old or tens of millions of years old, such as St Bathans in Central Otago.
‘Reconstructing’ an ecosystem means identifying what it looked like, what lived there, and how those organisms interacted before they disappeared.
“We look at how these ecosystems functioned and how they responded – or in some cases didn’t respond – to our dynamic geological, climatic, and human history.”
“And then how do we actually use that information going forward for evidence-based kaitiakitanga and conservation management in a fast-changing world?”
Assoc Prof Rawlence says his initial interests in the ecology of the past and in science communication came from his parents – his father was a natural-history-loving English teacher and his mother was a history-loving lecturer in communications.
Every holiday was a family road trip – learning about the natural, geological, and human history of a different part of Aotearoa, “with museum visits thrown in between wherever we went”.
“That really left an impression on me. I grew up in Nelson, surrounded by caves full of moa bones. I went on archaeological digs because my Mum was the Head of [the] Historic Places Trust for Nelson, and I went on fossil digs with my Dad, and so I was hooked from a very young age.”
Assoc Prof Rawlence 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.
“The cool thing is I actually get to work with my old high school, Nayland College, and my old high-school teacher. So that kind of brings me full circle.”
Assoc Prof Rawlence says one of the biggest (and most enjoyable) challenges in his science communication journey has been working with the Biology Educators of Aotearoa New Zealand to develop modules for high-school students at various levels. He has learned to tailor different words, analogies, and concepts to match education levels.
“The last thing you want to actually do is lose your audience and bore them to death.”
Assoc Prof Rawlence uses analogies and metaphors, and literary, historical, and pop-culture references to help get his message across.
The other important part of science communication for Assoc Prof Rawlence is in filling the gaps in news where conversations are needed at a societal level, with occasional “myth busting”.
“I believe that the critic and conscience role is really, really important because there are so many scientists in New Zealand that can’t actually speak out.”
Even so, speaking out can come at a cost, with Assoc Prof Rawlence facing an ongoing international smear campaign, for speaking out against de-extinction (the use of genetic technologies to ‘revive’ extinct species).
In recommending Assoc Prof Rawlence for this Prize, the expert panel was impressed with his contributions to science education and the breadth of his communications through a range of media – both proactive and reactive.
“He has already achieved global impact, with millions of views online, by fact-checking peoples’ claims on controversial topics.”
Assoc Prof Rawlence has a three-pronged plan to use the money from the Prize to improve, inspire, and ‘do’ science communication.
To improve science communication, Assoc Prof Rawlence plans to begin a longitudinal study on perceptions of de-extinction versus genetic engineering, to understand the influence of different forms of science communication.
To inspire better science communication, he’ll use the Prize to fund university postgraduate students and early career researchers to attend the Science Media Centre’s course on science communication. Assoc Prof Rawlence says the ‘Media SAVVY’ course was “life changing” for him.
Finally, he plans to write a popular science book with collaborator Dr Pascale Lubbe about how science has allowed past ecosystems from prehistoric New Zealand to be reconstructed.
“We’d like to get science out of the lab and into museum collections, and out into the field. We want to get behind the scenes to talk about the characters and scientists – now and historically – who have rediscovered these lost pages of New Zealand’s biological heritage, and bring science to the people.”
Assoc Prof Rawlence says the Prize gives him and the people who have won before him important recognition that science communication is valued.
He is also grateful for the team around him. “I wouldn’t be able to do this level of science communication – like doing interviews with international media one week after surgery, when news of Colossal Biosciences plan to de-extinct the moa broke – without the support of my wife and kids, family, friends, collaborators, my wonderful lab group and a very supportive department. So this Prize is as much for them as it is for me.”