Dr Michelle Dickinson (Nano Girl)

A PhD in biomedical materials engineering Michelle runs New Zealand's only nanomechanical testing laboratory and is a self-confessed adrenaline junkie.

Dickinson has said that she used to be painfully shy and afraid of public speaking. On the advice of a speaking coach, she invented the alter-ego "Nanogirl" as a way to overcome her nerves.

Through co-founding Nanogirl Labs, a social enterprise providing STEM outreach and research which uses kinesthetic based learning to increasing scientific literacy and confidence. Michelle's goal is to help people to have a meaningful relationship with technology no matter what their background.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit Michelle was the winner of the Woman of Influence award and Innovation in 2016, was awarded the Sir Peter Blake Leadership in 2015 and awarded the Prime Ministers Science Media Communication Prize and NZ Association of Scientists Science Communications Award in 2014. Michelle's mission is to used science for good, not evil!