Former students from the Department of Science Communication can today be found working in a variety of communication and creative-based roles.
In addition to the many professionals working in freelance as writers and filmmakers all over the world, our recent graduates have been employed in a variety of high-profile science communication roles, such as within the Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, the Australian Academy of Sciences, Office of the Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, the Museum of Science (Boston), Sir Peter Blake Trust (NIWA Ambassador), Royal Society of New Zealand, the BBC, Discovery, Ministry of Health, and many others.
Katharina Marino (2018)
Master of Science Communication graduate Katharina Marino shares her journey as an international student and her career pathway.
“As an undergraduate, I earned both journalism and geology degrees, and knew I wanted to work in museums, but I wasn't sure in what capacity. I considered a science journalism degree, but didn't find many that were more encompassing than just technical writing until a friend of mine came across Otago's Centre for Science Communication – it seemed like the perfect fit!
“As an international student so far from friends and family, the Centre for Science Communication became my home away from home. My fellow classmates, supervisor and other members of the Centre were all vital parts of my support system.
“I graduated with the Science in Society endorsement, but built a solid foundational skill set in creative non-fiction writing, as well as film and documentary making, which have all proven very useful in my career.
"I now work at the Museum of Science, in Boston, Massachusetts as an exhibit content developer. I research and write the content for the Museum's exhibitions, help develop the visitor experiences and ensure that the Museum is accessible to all visitors. I am also part of several teams working on grants and field-wide research studies.”
Find out more about the Master of Science Communication
Max Barrett (2017)
Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication graduate Max Barrett shares his postgraduate experience and how he landed a job at Weta Digital.
“I was close to finishing my BSc in Zoology at Otago, and looking for my next step, when my sister suggested the Natural History Filmmaking course in the Centre for Science Communication. It sounded too great to pass up! Nowhere else would I have had access to such incredible tutors, facilities, locations and experiences.
“My course included crafting a 10-minute film on a subject I'm passionate about, driving all around the region filming beautiful landscapes and talking to interesting people. It taught me the importance of breaking down a daunting task and taking it one step at a time while periodically revisiting the bigger. I'll have this film forever and it brings back a lot of memories!
“Following my graduation, I had the confidence and skills to walk up to Zealandia Eco-sanctuary and pitch myself to create some marketing content for them, and they signed me up on an internship. This was crucial to securing my job in the marketing team as a Content Creator at Weta Digital. I'm now carving out my own role in the team as a content creator, confident in this career path and in the fact that I am capable.”
Max completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Science Communication (endorsed in Science and Natural History Filmmaking).
Find out more about the postgraduate options in Science Communication
Ali Northern (2016)
Master of Science Communication graduate Ali Northern shares her journey through university to securing her dream job.
“While studying Ecology and Zoology as an undergraduate at Otago, I came across the Centre for Science Communication, and it was like a dream come true. I loved science, particularly biology, but I also enjoyed writing and creative pursuits.
“Classes were varied and engaging, ranging from practical classes in photography, filmmaking and blogging, to theoretical classes exploring the research behind different methods of communicating scientific concepts to a range of audiences.
“Having a Master of Science Communication sets you apart from the crowd in many job application processes. After a few months travelling the world, I was able to secure my first “real” job at the Department of Conservation as a social media advisor. From there, I gained a position as the Science Communicator at Resilience to Nature's Challenges, a research organisation based at GNS Science. Now, four years after graduating, I've managed to secure my dream job as the Digital Marketing Manager for WWF-New Zealand. My work is challenging and rewarding, and hugely varied. I love it.”