An outstanding science communicator who became a household name in New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic, but paid a harsh price for her brilliant work. Award winning, energetic Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles talks bioluminescent superbugs, infectious diseases, Covid, sexism, misogyny, menstrual cups and reinvention.
Introduction
If you were living in Aotearoa New Zealand during the pandemic, you’ll probably recognise my next podcast guest by voice. And you’ll certainly recognise her when you see her distinctive, curly, bright pink hair. Associate Professor Souxsie Wiles was an astonishingly effective science communicator during those turbulent and confusing times, helping us all navigate and understand Covid as the pandemic unfolded. Ultimately, she was subsequently honoured as New Zealander of the Year 2021 for this and other work.
But unfortunately for Siouxsie, as many high profile science communicators do, she paid a very unpleasant price. Online bullying, hideous threats including death and rape threats, incursions on her privacy, doxing and more. It was incredibly stressful for her. And when she asked for help from her employer – the University of Auckland – they refused.
Five years later, Siousxie has battled her employer and won in court, but was left hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket. She has taken time, as she puts it, to “get well again”, and has now reinvented herself, focussing on an interesting new problem with infectious diseases and menstrual cups. And of course, she remains at the ready to continue her public health and science communication work as the curve-balls come our way.
So today we talk bioluminescent superbugs, infectious diseases, Covid, sexism, misogyny, menstrual cups and reinvention.
Here is the multi-award winning, inquisitive, energetic, brilliant and most extraordinary Siouxsie Wiles.
