Biography:

Jean Fleming is a science communicator at the University of Otago, Dunedin, NZ, with a history of teaching and research in reproductive biology. Jean is also Associate Dean of Science Outreach at Otago. In this role she is looking for ways to support and coordinate outreach at Otago better. Jean’s postgraduate students in Science Communication study everything from the effectiveness of rapping science to the use of automata for teaching mechanics. Jean’s science communication research focuses on effective ways to engage non-scientists in discussion and deliberation of the big science issues of today. Jean has been involved in the running of the NZ International Science Festival in Dunedin since 1997 and was made a life member in 2012. She has helped organise the University of Otago’s secondary school summer programme Hands-on Science since 1995 and ran projects in Physiology and Anatomy for over 15 years. Jean has had a regular slot on the Radio NZ National Nights programme with Bryan Crump since 2008, where she discusses Body Parts. Jean’s commitment to taking her science to the community led to the award of a Suffrage Medal in 1993, a Royal Society of NZ Silver Science & Technology Medal in 1998 and an ONZM for services to science in 2002.

Presentations:

• The emergence of modern science communication in Australia and New Zealand
• SCANZ-ASC Breakfast event