In Conversation With Dr. Siouxsie Wiles
Dr. Siouxsie Wiles is a microbiologist and head of the Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab at the University of Auckland. She’s been the media’s go-to doctor to consult about new diseases for many years, but the pandemic made her a household name.
Known widely for her incredible science communication, Siouxsie won the 2021 New Zealander of the Year award for her work breaking down complex information about Covid-19 for the general public.
I got to chat with Siouxsie about what makes science exciting.
Siouxsie started off studying microbiology because she had read about plagues in Robert Wilkin’s The Fireside Book of Deadly Diseases and was “blown away by tiny microorganisms causing havoc”. She spent most of her early career “fascinated by figuring out how things work”; the pandemic made her look at the bigger picture.
Siouxise “mind blowingly” realised that you couldn’t respond to microbes and organisms without responding to humans. Attaching a human aspect to her scientific research has helped keep her motivated over the years. That’s why she’s so enthusiastic about science communication; as a publicly funded scientist, she feels a moral obligation to make her research accessible.
Since 2020, Siouxsie has been working with The Spinoff to produce explainer articles and infographics, helping New Zealanders wrap their heads around Covid-19. I particularly admire all the illustrations she’s created with (ex-Salient Designer) Toby Morris from The Spinoff, which she calls “the most incredible collaboration of her life”. Their ‘Flatten The Curve’ graphic went viral around the world.
Children have an innate curiosity about the world around them but Siouxise reckons that, as we grow up, we receive subtle messaging that curiosity is frivolous and that we should focus on more serious matters. She wants students to remember that science isn't about cold hard facts, but rather about curiosity and investigation.
Siouxsie has many suggestions on how you can engage with science. The Department of Conservation runs ‘citizen science projects’ which are practical ways for everyday people to contribute to conservation research. Te Papa is currently conducting an Aotearoa-wide mosquito census, which requires regular folk to catch, freeze, and send mosquitos to the museum. Maybe the next time you want to #treatyourself, splurge on an ant farm or a crystal-growing kit.
Ultimately, Siouxsie believes science is exciting because it “delves into the unknown”. I couldn’t agree more.
This week’s Science Issue celebrates science in all shapes and forms. Maia forays into the world of foraging mushrooms, Bridget breaks down psychometric testing, Zoё investigates alternate facts at anti-mandate protests, our news team dissects Aotearoa’s first Emissions Reduction Plan, a group of Science PhD candidates share what they’re currently researching, and much more.
Science is everywhere. As Souxise puts it, “the cake baking in your oven is chemistry, the scum growing in your bathroom is biology”. Nurture your inner child and stay curious about how the world works, because there are so many exciting questions we have yet to answer.