About Me
I am an interdisciplinary social scientist focusing on issues that lie under the broad umbrella of 'Science in Society'.
Within this area I specialise in science communication, science innovation, collaborative learning and community-based participatory research particularly relating to environmental issues. I am a tertiary teacher, a researcher and a consultant.
My career path has not been typical. I studied in the Arts for my undergraduate degree and majored in English & Art History at the University of Auckland. I complemented this with a Licentiate Teachers Diploma (Speech & Drama) from Trinity College, London.
I have worked in both the public and private health sectors, including several years in the pharmaceutical industry. Here I learnt the importance of being able to communicate scientific information to diverse audiences.
In 1992 I took up a part time position at the University of Auckland, which has expanded to now include the teaching and course coordination of three undergraduate courses that together also form the 'Science in Society' module offered by the Faculty of Science. You can read more about these courses on my teaching page. Over this time I also gained a Masters Degree with First Class Honours in Film, Television & Media Studies from the University of Auckland, investigating science in the media, before going on to complete a Doctorate in Environmental Science examining multi-disciplinary engagement to promote sustainable agriculture, graduating in 2016. You can read more about my research on my research page.
Away from university I am a mother of two grown children and am Research Director of a boutique environmental consultancy with my husband, Dr Grant Dumbell.
My work takes me to some very interesting parts of New Zealand and gives me the opportunity to meet and work with a wide range of people from all walks of life. You can read more about my consulting work here.
Beyond work I love travelling in and exploring our beautiful country. Grant and I have purchased a small slice of New Zealand's iconic landscape in Tolaga Bay, where we seek to develop an off the grid sustainable oasis. You can find out more about this on our website Tane's Rest.
Within this area I specialise in science communication, science innovation, collaborative learning and community-based participatory research particularly relating to environmental issues. I am a tertiary teacher, a researcher and a consultant.
My career path has not been typical. I studied in the Arts for my undergraduate degree and majored in English & Art History at the University of Auckland. I complemented this with a Licentiate Teachers Diploma (Speech & Drama) from Trinity College, London.
I have worked in both the public and private health sectors, including several years in the pharmaceutical industry. Here I learnt the importance of being able to communicate scientific information to diverse audiences.
In 1992 I took up a part time position at the University of Auckland, which has expanded to now include the teaching and course coordination of three undergraduate courses that together also form the 'Science in Society' module offered by the Faculty of Science. You can read more about these courses on my teaching page. Over this time I also gained a Masters Degree with First Class Honours in Film, Television & Media Studies from the University of Auckland, investigating science in the media, before going on to complete a Doctorate in Environmental Science examining multi-disciplinary engagement to promote sustainable agriculture, graduating in 2016. You can read more about my research on my research page.
Away from university I am a mother of two grown children and am Research Director of a boutique environmental consultancy with my husband, Dr Grant Dumbell.
My work takes me to some very interesting parts of New Zealand and gives me the opportunity to meet and work with a wide range of people from all walks of life. You can read more about my consulting work here.
Beyond work I love travelling in and exploring our beautiful country. Grant and I have purchased a small slice of New Zealand's iconic landscape in Tolaga Bay, where we seek to develop an off the grid sustainable oasis. You can find out more about this on our website Tane's Rest.
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