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!

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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!

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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.

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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 magicinstead, 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


Fiery birthday party making science fun Headshot

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.

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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.

Nanogirl shows off impressive experiments as part of bid to get kids involved in science Headshot

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.

Nanogirl wins international science education award Headshot

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.

Home schooling Kiwi mum-of-five daughters on STEM crusade with Nanogirl Headshot

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.

Nanogirl makes science a super power Headshot

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.

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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.

Covid-19: Nanogirl explains what should we tell our kids about coronavirus Headshot

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.

Nanogirl's mission to make STEM more accessible this summer Headshot

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


Partners-Dettol
Partners-Genesis
Partners-MinistryofEducation
Partners-Toyota
Partners-NZForeignAffairs
Partners-AirForce
Partners-Navy
Partners-Xero
Partners-Stuff
Partners-Nestle
Partners-Wintec
Partners-bnz-logo
Partners-TSB
Partners-BrightFutureTrust
Partners-Vodaphone
Partners-CancerSociety
Partners-MacDiarmidInstitute
Partners-Timbre
Partners-PlasticsNz

Awards


Science Film Festival

IPST Education Award
Winner 2019

Prime Ministers Science Award

Science Communication
Award 2014

Women of Influence Award

Science and Innovation
Award 2016

The New Zealand Association of Scientists

Science Communicators
Award 2014

Our Team


Joe Davis Headshot

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Averill Moser-Rust

SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR

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

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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!

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Caoimhe Lane

SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR

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

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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!