Residence New Zealand Notable awards Blake Medal Notable award Peter Blake | Institutions University of Auckland Alma mater University of Edinburgh Institution University of Auckland | |
 | ||
Fields Microbiology, Science education | ||
How glowing bacteria can save the world siouxsie wiles tedxchristchurch
Siouxsie Wiles (born Susanna Wiles) is a microbiologist and science communicator who is based in New Zealand. Her specialist areas are infectious diseases and bioluminescence.
Contents
- How glowing bacteria can save the world siouxsie wiles tedxchristchurch
- Building blocks of bias lego and gender siouxsie wiles tedxauckland
- Early life
- Education
- Professional life
- Science communication
- Awards and recognition
- References
Building blocks of bias lego and gender siouxsie wiles tedxauckland
Early life
Wiles grew up in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Her mother is a social worker and her father is a business owner.
Education
Wiles studied at the University of Edinburgh and graduated in 1997 with a BSc(Hons) in Medical Microbiology. While an undergraduate, she received a Nuffield Scholarship and worked in the university's School of Biological Sciences. Wiles completed her PhD at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, previously known as the Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology.
Professional life
After completing her PhD, Wiles moved to Imperial College London for a post-doctoral research position on tuberculosis. In 2007 she became a lecturer at Imperial College, and in 2009 was awarded a Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship from the Health Research Council of New Zealand and moved to the University of Auckland. Wiles is the head of the university's Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab.
Science communication
Wiles is passionate about demystifying science for the general public. She is an active blogger on Sciblogs.co.nz, an online podcaster, a commentator on Radio New Zealand and appears on TV shows to discuss science stories in the news. She was one of eight scientists who fronted the New Zealand government's National Science Challenges in 2012, and co-presented the TV series "The Great New Zealand Science Project".
She has also used art and film to communicate scientific ideas: in 2011 she collaborated with Australian graphic artist Luke Harris to produce a series of animated films featuring bioluminescent creatures and their uses in science. One of the animations, on fireflies, was selected for inclusion in the 6th Imagine Science Film Festival in New York in 2013, and the Goethe Institute’s 2014 Science Film Festival. Wiles also collaborated with artist Rebecca Klee on an installation at the Auckland Art in the Dark Festival in 2013, which featured the Hawaiian bobtail squid.