Scientists (New Zealand)

Well-known scientists

Here is a list of some well-known New Zealand scientists but there are many more. You will find information about these and other scientists by searching the helpful websites further on in this entry.

Muriel Bell (1898 - 1974): Nutritionist

Paul Callaghan (1947 - 2012): Physicist

Kathleen Curtis (1892 - 1994): Mycologist

Alan G. MacDiarmid (1927 - 2007): Chemist

Rangi Mātāmua (? - ): Astronomer and Mātauranga Māori expert

Steve O'Shea (1965 - ): Marine Biologist

Sir William H. Pickering (1910 - 2004): Rocket Scientist

Thomas Athol Rafter (1913 - 1996): Nuclear Chemist

Ernest Rutherford (1871 - 1937): Physicist

Beatrice M. Tinsley (1941 - 1981): Astronomer and Cosmologist

Ingrid Visser (1966 - ): Marine Biologist

Thomas William Walker (1916 - 2010): Soil Scientist

Joan Wiffen (1922 - 2009): Palaeontologist

Siouxsie Wiles (? - ): Microbiologist

Maurice Wilkins (1916 - 2004): Physicist and Molecular Biologist

NZ History

NZHistory is a great website for information about New Zealand Aotearoa. If we go all the way down the page we can see that the website belongs to the Ministry for Culture & Heritage, so the information is well-researched and reliable.

• From the home page, go to the People tab.

• Go to R and select Ernest Rutherford.

• You can also use keywords in the search bar (eg Maurice Wilkins) to find information related to a particular scientist.

Tips: We like sites like this because they’re reliable. You can tell because of their web address – they have either .govt or .ac, meaning they are from government or educational organisations. They’re also New Zealand sites, so relevant for us.

Biography (Gale In Context)

This is one of the EPIC databases that have been put together especially for New Zealand school students. It has historical and current biographies of famous people, including some New Zealander scientists.

• Search for the name of a scientist.

• If they have a biography on the site, you will see their name in the results eg MacDiarmid, Alan. G.

• Or you can try searching keywords like 'New Zealand scientist' or 'New Zealand chemist'.

Tips: To get to the EPIC resources you will need a password from your school librarian first. Or you can chat with one of our AnyQuestions librarians between 1 and 6pm Monday to Friday and they will help you online. Some EPIC databases may also be available through your public library.

Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (DNZB)

DNZB is part of Te Ara — The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. It has over 3,000 biographies of New Zealanders who have ‘made their mark’ on this country. It does not include people who are alive.

• Use the search bar to search for a particular name like Joan Wiffen or Muriel Bell.

• Or you can browse last names by letter.

• Another way to browse is to go to the Advanced Biographies Search and choose an Occupation under SCIENCE.

Science as a career

Becoming a scientist takes dedication and patience. There are many different scientific fields to work including some listed below. There are also some websites about science related careers to get you started.

Chemist: studies the behaviour of chemicals.

Forensic Scientist: studies forensic data to use in investigating crimes.

Geologist: studies the structure and history of the Earth.

Marine Biologist: studies plants and animals under the sea.

Meteorologist: studies the atmosphere to understand the weather.

Microbiologist: studies small organisms like bacteria and viruses.

Zoologist: studies animals.

CareersNZ

CareersNZ is the best place to look for information about jobs and careers in New Zealand.

• Enter 'Scientist' in the search bar.

• Choose from the results eg Forensic Scientist.

• To find courses related to science, select the Courses link on the homepage.

Tips: We like sites like this because they’re reliable. You can tell because of their web address – they have either .govt or .ac, meaning they are from government or educational organisations. They’re also New Zealand sites, so relevant for us.

Science New Zealand

This is the careers site for seven New Zealand science research organisations. These organisations are owned by the New Zealand Government and carry out important research.

• Look under the section called Crown Research Institutes.

• Select the links to find more information about each organisation eg GNS Science.

Science Learning Hub

Science Learning Hub is a great website created by University of Waikato and Curious Minds (NZ) that has articles about scientists or working as a scientist.

• Select the search bar.

• Enter Working in STEM and filter by Article.

• Select an article about the profession like Working as a scientist.

• Or choose an article about a scientist eg Stephen Tauwhare (Poutini Kai Tahu, Ngi Hikairo ki Kawhia).

Tips: Websites that have .org or .net in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About us link on the website, if you can find one. That can tell you what the organisation’s mission and values are.

E-Tangata

E-Tangata is an online Sunday magazine run by Mana Trust to reflect a more balanced view of Māori and Pacific lives and issues in Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Search for a scientists name or try the keyword 'science' or 'scientist' to discover articles.

• You can find interviews with scientists such as Rangi Matamua: Matariki and Māori astronomy and Sarah-Jane Paine: Embedding whakamāori research.

• Interviews will tell the story of their lives and their experiences working with science.

Books

Your local public library or school will have many books about famous New Zealand scientists. It is a good idea to search individual scientists by name to find biographies.

• Atom's dinosaurs & DNA : 68 great New Zealand scientists by Veronika Meduna and Rebecca Priestley.

• Ernest Rutherford by Kevin Boon.

• Four great New Zealand scientists by Keith Tonkin.

• New Zealand hall of fame : 50 remarkable Kiwis by Maria Gill.

SCIS no: 1903582