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New Zealand nanotechnologist and science educator From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 |
Dickinson 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]
Dickinson 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]
On 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]
Dickinson 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]
In 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]
In 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]
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