Infectious Thoughts

Are 300 animals a day really tortured for scientific research in New Zealand? Part 1.

Siouxsie Wiles • Feb 23, 2016

• 3Rs,
• animal research,
• animal statistics,
• animal use,
• MPI,
• NZAVS,
• Paul Henry,
• Stephen Mason

“300 animals a day tortured to death.” is pretty much how Paul Henry recently reported the figures on the use of animals for scientific research, teaching and testing in New Zealand. A statement like that calls for some definite debunking! This month the Ministry for Primary Industries released the 2014 figures on the animals used for research, teaching and … Read More

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Are feminists really bullying Richard Dawkins? A response to Ken Perrott

Siouxsie Wiles • Feb 18, 2016

• Amy Roth,
• atheism,
• Dear Muslima,
• feminism,
• feminists,
• Ken Perrott,
• men's rights activists,
• MRA,
• NECSS,
• Open Parachute,
• Patreon,
• Rebecca Watson,
• Richard Dawkins,
• sexism,
• Skepticism,
• SurlyAmy

My fellow sciblogger over on Open Parachute Ken Perrott has posted his thoughts on recent events involving prominent atheist Richard Dawkins, who was invited then disinvited to speak at a skeptics conference in the USA later this year.  Basically, Dawkins was invited to speak at the Northeast Conference on Science & Skepticism (NECSS), then very publicly … Read More

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Zika update – sexual transmission & GM mosquitoes

Siouxsie Wiles • Feb 04, 2016

• Americas,
• Brazil,
• CDC,
• genetic modification,
• GM mosquitoes,
• mosquitoes,
• oxitec,
• semen,
• virus,
• zika

Earlier this week the WHO declared the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas a Public Health Emergency of International Concern and yesterday the CDC reported that someone in Dallas had become infected with the virus by having sex with someone infected overseas. Meanwhile, the internet is awash with claims that genetically-modified mosquitoes are to blame for the outbreak in Brazil.  In … Read More

Zika virus: an FAQ

Siouxsie Wiles • Jan 26, 2016

• Aedes,
• Brazil,
• microcephaly,
• Mosquito,
• outbreak,
• small head,
• virus,
• zika

A virus spread by mosquitoes and which has been linked to babies being born with smaller heads and brains in Brazil is making the news. Here’s a quick FAQ to bring you up to speed. What is Zika and where has it come from? Zika is an RNA virus that was first identified in monkeys in Uganda in 1947. The … Read More

Busting sexism in science

Siouxsie Wiles • Dec 16, 2015

• academics,
• Bridget Williams Books,
• crowdfunding,
• Nicola Gaston,
• pledge me,
• Science,
• sexism,
• sexist,
• universities

Science IS sexist. Fullstop. There is an abundance of evidence that it is more difficult for women working in science to get jobs, funding and published, just because they are women. So the question is, how are we going to fix the problem? Dr Nicola Gaston, Senior Lecturer in the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences at Victoria … Read More

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A gift for someone special – Part IV

Siouxsie Wiles • Dec 12, 2015

• egg donation,
• egg donor,
• IVF

Almost a year ago, I wrote what would become three blog posts about my decision to become an egg donor, and the journey I went on that led to 11 of my ova being used to try to make a baby for someone special to me. So as 2015 draws to a close, I’m excited to announce that we made … Read More

Support science with these last minute Xmas gifts!

Siouxsie Wiles • Dec 11, 2015

• bioluminescence,
• Christmas,
• Christmas presents,
• donate,
• donation,
• fungi,
• gifts,
• glowing art,
• Landcare,
• presents,
• redbubble,
• sci-art,
• Science,
• science-art,
• shop,
• shopping,
• t-shirt,
• University of Auckland

If you are looking for gifts that are a little different, and like the idea of supporting scientific research, then we have just the thing for you! This year I’ve worked with a number of artists and illustrators to make amazing artworks out of naturally glowing bacteria. The artworks may only last a day or two but we took photos of … Read More

Surviving the flupocalypse!

Siouxsie Wiles • Sep 07, 2015

• Awana Rural Women,
• Barrier,
• David Johnston,
• Flu,
• GNS Science,
• Great Barrier Island,
• Island,
• John Titmus,
• Karen Healey,
• Lance Jennings,
• Mortenza,
• Otago,
• Pandemic,
• Radio NZ,
• virus

Picture this. A new virus, Mortenza, is sweeping around the world, killing millions. Despite all efforts, Mortenza reaches New Zealand and rapidly spreads around the country. In desperation, the Government isolates the tiny uninfected island of Great Barrier. How would this small community cope? Would they survive the pandemic? This is the fascinating scenario I’ll be exploring this coming weekend … Read More

NIWA in astonishing attack on scientist association

Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 28, 2015

• Crown Research Institute,
• Funding,
• gagging,
• integrity,
• Landcare Research,
• New Zealand Association of Scientists,
• NIWA,
• NZAS,
• Peter Gluckman,
• Radio NZ,
• research,
• Steven Joyce,
• XRI

NZ’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) has accused the NZ Association of Scientists (NZAS) of casting doubt on the integrity of NZ’s scientists, and says it will no longer pay membership fees for its staff.  This morning, news broke on Radio NZ National of an internal email within the Crown Research Institute (CRI) NIWA sent … Read More

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What would you ask a scientist?!

Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 27, 2015

• Ask a Scientist,
• brains,
• children,
• clouds,
• Magnets,
• planets,
• Pluto,
• primary school,
• Saturn

In preparation for Queenstown Research Week, Auckland University’s Prof Peter Shepherd asked primary school kids what questions they would ask a scientist. One class at Shotover Primary School sent us this list: Edit: A group of 10-11 year olds from Wakatipu High have added to the list (Q29-48) How does the sky stay up? How does … Read More

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