Portfolio
Aotearoa New Zealand
Review of Wai Pasifika: Indigenous Ways in a Changing Climate – Kete, 2022.
Book critique of a series of essays by David Young that explores indigenous approaches to freshwater management from a Pākehā perspective.
Climate change scientists look to Māori and other indigenous people for answers – Fairfax Media NZ (Stuff/Dominion Post/The Press), 2019.
Feature article for the popular (250K+ readers) Your Weekend insert in The Dominion Post and The Press introducing mātauranga Māori and how indigenous knowledge can help us respond better to climate change and other environmental issues.
Listening to the Land – in Cracking the Code, Connected (2018), Ministry of Education.
Feature article for school students on how Māori knowledge is helping us understand how climate change is already affecting Aotearoa New Zealand.
Curious Minds (2016-2021)
News and feature articles, website and social media management, communications advice.
Curious Minds is the New Zealand government’s 10-year initiative to boost engagement in science and technology for all New Zealanders, especially those who are underserved or underrepresented. The website and social media channels were decommissioned on 30 June 2021 (the link provided is an archive).
Mātau Taiao
Long-form feature stories about Indigenous knowledge and science.
These stories were based on many interviews with Indigenous knowledge holders and scientists, who gave fully informed consent and continue to have full co-ownership over these stories. They have been shared hundreds of times and received thousands of unique visits from global audiences – including by members of Indigenous communities in other countries.
United Kingdom
Writing
Seeing Sound – London Science Museum, 2011.
Feature article exploring the Oramics Machine, a quirky steampunkish invention that revolutionised electronic music.
The Last Interview – London Science Museum, 2011.
Interview with former Science Museum Director and leading climate scientist Professor Chris Rapley OBE, revealing his soft spot for the humble Leica camera on display that shot the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph ‘Napalm Girl’.
Freelance news writer for The Earth Times, an online newspaper specialising in providing breaking news stories on global environmental issues.
Elements – Defra, 2009-2011
Wrote, laid out (using InDesign), project-managed and published this science magazine for non-expert readers on behalf of Defra (the government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).
Science is important – whyscience.co.uk, 2009
Opinion article on the value of science and what has changed in the world thanks to scientific innovation.
Darwin Anniversary – Science Photo Library, 2008
Photospread feature article commemorating Charles Darwin’s life and his pioneering work.
21st Century Machine Shines Light onto a Fossil World – Science Photo Library, 2008
Photospread feature article on using an atom smasher to analyse fossils hidden inside opaque amber.
Nefertari’s Hidden Treasure – Science Photo Library, 2008
Photospread feature article on the beautifully preserved walls of Nefertari’s Tomb.
New Medicines from Old – Science Photo Library 2007
Photospread feature article on herbal plants as potential resources for clinical drugs for aiding brain disorders.
Noah’s Ark for Plants – Science Photo Library, 2007
Photospread feature article on preserving seeds at Kew Garden’s Millennium Seed Bank.
Parkinson’s Disease and the Pond Snail – Daily Telegraph, 2007
Awarded the runner up prize for the Daily Telegraph Science Writer Awards four months later, in August 2007. A commentary on the awardees’ entrants can be read on the official website.
A Glacial Warning – firstscience.com, 2006
Freelance feature article based on MSc coursework piece ‘Global Warming: A Glacial Warning‘ (graded Distinction) that was altered for First Science’s online readers. This feature was also used by SWiFT Weekly, a South African e-publication.
BioNews publications – 2006
Several news reports for BioNews, the Progress Educational Trust’s online bulletin for national news on human genetics and assisted reproduction.
Futuristic Food – firstscience.com, 2006
A feature based on ‘Hello Moto’ (see below) but altered for First Science’s online readers.
Hello Moto – I, Science, 2006
One half of the centrepage spread feature The new GM: Genius-Modified Food in Imperial College’s science magazine, I, Science. Laura also wrote other articles as well as designing the layout with InDesign for the feature on child geniuses.
This work contributed towards the magazine being awarded the runner up prize for Best Magazine at the Guardian Student Media Awards 2006.
Web Design
Flextel, 2012
Liased with designers to create a brand refresh and update the website accordingly.
Science London, 2010
Website for the Central London branch of the British Science Association.
I, Science 2006
Website version of Imperial College London’s science magazine.
Film
Like Fishing, 2006
Short documentary focusing on the theme of Discovery for my Science Communication MSc.
My filming group shadowed and interviewed metal detectorists who were surveying a site at which they found artefacts dating back to the early 1300s. They shared with us the thrill of fishing for a valuable find, and the despair when sites get ransacked by thieving ‘nighthawks’.