Inspire, Educate and Empower Through STEM
We’re on a mission to ensure that everyone, everywhere has the opportunity to develop a love of STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths!


What We Do
We deliver engaging STEM experiences for children, creating opportunities to learn and explore in a way that inspires a lifelong curiosity.
With a team of qualified scientists, (and expert science communicators) we deliver explosive live science theatre shows, school assembly shows, teacher PLD training, science birthday parties and much more! We create learning environments that match how children learn best—by combining compelling narrative storylines with accessible, hands-on experiences.
By opening eyes and minds through STEM learning experiences in homes, schools and communities, we seek to inspire and empower tomorrow’s thinkers, creators and innovators!

About Nanogirl Labs
A social enterprise, Nanogirl Labs exists to inspire and empower through STEM education.
Nanogirl Labs was created by founders, Joe Davis and Dr Michelle Dickinson, MNZM. Based in Auckland, NZ, our team works around the world to design and deliver products and experiences that are both highly engaging and deeply impactful.
Increasing diversity and inclusion in STEM fields is one of the key outcomes of our work worldwide and we focus on sustainability and accessibility in everything we do.
Buy One, Give One
In everything we do, we make sure that everyone is able to access and enjoy a Nanogirl experience, no matter their circumstance. Through our Buy One, Give One initiative, we are able to reach families who otherwise wouldn’t be able to access our STEM education programmes, enabling them to participate and not get left behind.

Meet Nanogirl
Originally created by Nanotechnologist and Materials Engineer, Dr Michelle Dickinson, Nanogirl™ is a superhero with a difference!
Her superpowers don’t come from alien parents or magic—instead, Nanogirl builds them using the superpowers of STEM!
Nanogirl and her friends use their skills to engineer their way into, and out of, trouble in order to inspire and empower young people around the world to tackle some of the world’s biggest questions.
Nanogirl in the News

SUNLIVE.CO.NZ
Fiery birthday party making science fun
Tauranga mum Stacey Kemeys (My Kids Lick The Bowl) wows her eight-year-old son with a Nanogirl Indoor Fireworks Birthday Party.

NZHERALD.CO.NZ
Bangs, fire and smoke rings hook kids on science
"How many of you would like to have superpowers?" asked Nanogirl in the Dannevirke South School Hall.

TVNZ.CO.NZ
Nanogirl shows off impressive experiments as part of bid to get kids involved in science
Students at Tainui Primary School in Tokoroa wowed by an exciting science performance by Nanogirl.

STUFF.CO.NZ
Nanogirl wins international science education award
Kiwi science programme Nanogirl and the Imaginauts wins international award at the Science Film Festival in Thailand.

NZHERALD.CO.NZ
Home schooling Kiwi mum-of-five daughters on STEM crusade with Nanogirl
Whanganui mum Erana Pound (@thecultureofgrace) uses Nanogirl's Lab to engage daughters in educational play.

NZHERALD.CO.NZ
Nanogirl makes science a super power
Nanogirl science communicator Dr Kate Sparks captivated a crowd of over 300 Year 8 students with the science of superpowers in Whanganui.

STUFF.CO.NZ
Demand for children's science communicators
2020 threw a spotlight on the importance of science communication. KATE GREEN spoke to women at the heart of discovery, innovation, and education.

STUFF.CO.NZ
Covid-19: Nanogirl explains what should we tell our kids about coronavirus
The original 'Nanogirl', Dr Michelle Dickinson, held regular press conferences with children in the early days of the Covid-19 outbreak to explain what the virus was.

STUFF.CO.NZ
Nanogirl's mission to make STEM more accessible this summer
Dr Michelle Dickinson is a pro at getting children excited about science on a shoestring budget.
We work globally with partners who share our passion—creating opportunity through STEM.
If you’d like to join us on our mission, please get in touch!
Our Partners



















Awards

IPST Education Award
Winner 2019

Science Communication
Award 2014

Science and Innovation
Award 2016

Science Communicators
Award 2014

Our Team

Joe Davis
FOUNDER, CEO
Joe leads the Nanogirl Labs team worldwide, and many of our key consulting projects. Joe has extensive experience across both commerical and non-profit leadership, innovation, strategy and transformation.

Dr. Michelle Dickinson
FOUNDER, CTO
The original “Nanogirl”, Michelle is a world-renowned educator and communicator. An engineer by training with two decades experience across academia and industry, Michelle leads the technical content, insights and strategy.

Gareth Baston
GLOBAL PRODUCTION & PROGRAMMING MANAGER
Gareth manages our Nanogirl Live! theatre education programmes worldwide, and leads production management & health and safety across the company.

Dr. Kate Sparks
HEAD OF STEM CONTENT AND IMPACT
A marine biologist, passionate educator, and experienced science communicator, Kate develops much of the STEM content across our products and programmes.

Kerry Quin
MANAGER PARTNERSHIP, PEOPLE AND CULTURE
With extensive global experience across event management, stakeholder management and entrepreneurship. Kerry leads projects and relationships with our major partners.

Jude Norcross
SOLUTION DESIGN LEAD
Jude is an experienced materials engineer and an expert problem solver. She brings people on the adventure to discover the unexpected in science while leading the content and design team at Nanogirl Labs to deliver on technical projects.

Samantha Paxton
EDUCATION SPECIALIST
With her experience as a science teacher in the UK and a primary school teacher in New Zealand as well as a background in the magazine media industry, Sam brings a unique skillset of education and publishing to the Nanogirl Labs team.

Hannah Boom
CHIEF DESIGNER
Hannah “Click Click Boom” has over 10 years experience as a graphic, web and UX designer in North America and Australasia. She has an MA in Web Design from the University of Greenwich and brings her expertise and creativity to shape Nanogirl’s visual identity.

Tammy Rush
PARTY OPERATIONS
Tammy has almost a decade of experience bringing science to kids as “Tornado Tammy.” Her expertise creating engaging, science-filled birthday parties and special events makes Tammy a key member of the Nanogirl birthday parties team.

Kate Woods
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Kate has over 15 years experience in both project coordination and facilitation across different sectors. She also has a BFA from Elam School of Fine Arts, has exhibited widely and has an interest in the intersection between art and maths.

Amina Daud
Presenter Operations Coordinator
“Amino” Amina brings years of experience from an operational perspective ensuring its smooth running while developing and enhancing relationships with Nanogirl presenters and its customers.

Te Rauhiringa Brown
CONTENT CREATOR & PRESENTER
With extensive writing, acting and performing skills and fluency in Te Reo Māori, Krystal-Lee heads up our cultural advisory and content team for our bilingual engagements including our live bilingual science touring show Mātātoa.

Sophie Fern
SCIENCE CONTENT CREATOR
Sophie is a biologist and storyteller whose research is in understanding the gap between what we tell the public about endangered species and what they understand.

Isla Christensen
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Isla is working towards her masters degree in Environmental Management at the University of Auckland. She is passionate about climate change, loves filmmaking and is an enthusiastic Nanogirl presenter.

Sarah Jamieson
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Sarah has a BSc Hons in Chemistry, and is passionate about equal opportunities in STEM. Sarah wants to see more female representation in science and looks for ways to make science a creative outlet that's fun and accessible for all.

Georgia Third
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
A Marine Scientist, specialising in Fisheries Ecology. Georgia is currently doing her masters degree with the University of Auckland and NIWA. She is passionate about science communication with children and adults.

Rosie Carr-Smith
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
A medical student at the University of Otago in Wellington, Rosie is passionate and knowledgeable about medicine and health science, and bringing science to life for children as a Nanogirl science communicator.

Arisa Parr-Whalley
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Arisa is pursuing a conjoint BA/BSc majoring in Linguistics and Physics. She is a multitalented scientist, who is also an aviatrix (flying Cessna 172s) and a netball coach and umpire.

Caitlin Meynell
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Caitlin has her Bachelor of Biomedical Science majoring in Genetics and minoring in Chemistry and Molecular Pathology. She has a passion for the outdoors and loves working with children to open up the world of science!

Ashani Perera
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Ashani is a Product Development Engineer at Fisher and Paykel Healthcare. In her down time she loves learning new skills such as pottery and crocheting, and she loves encouraging children to learn more about science

Geetanjali Lamba
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Geetanjali brings a unique skillset combining a background in mechatronic engineering and finance. She is a passionate communicator looking to instill a love for science in children through the work that she does for Nanogirl.

Debbie Lovegrove
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Debbie, a Palaeontologist, has years of experience working as an environmental geologist and in environmental education and awareness. "Debbiesaurus" works with the Nanogirl team, helping bring explosive, live science and engineering to people all across New Zealand.

Iona Morton
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
"Galactic Girl", Iona, is in her final year of a Global studies and Science conjoint, majoring in Global environment and sustainable development and geography. She is passionate solving some of the world's biggest challenges and loves working with curious young scientists.

Averill Moser-Rust
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Averill, "Spider Girl", is pursuing her PhD in Animal Behaviour from the University of Canterbury, specialising in jumping spiders.

Dr. Sneh Patel
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Sneh, "Agent Alchemy”, earned her PhD in Physical and Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Auckland. She is passionate about bringing science to children, working as a project manager in a steam education role and is an expert in the chemistry of Slime!

Caoimhe Lane
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Caoimhe, "Quantum Keeva", is completing a conjoint BSc/BA in Physics and Music at the University of Auckland.

Jessica Bishop
SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR
Jess, "Stingray J", is in her final year studying marine biology and ecology and biodiversity at Victoria. She is passionate about educating young people on the importance of caring for our Papatūānuku, and sparking their interest in all things science!
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