Research Interests
Science Communication - Teach and support students and staff in research informed communication methods.
Scientific Photography - Studio and location photos for research, presentation and publication.
Design of Technical Figures - Extensive experience designing figures for scientific publications to effectively communicate complex scientific information within the constraints of journal guidelines.
Remote, distance and blended learning design - developing research informed teaching practices.
- Science communication
- Communication design
- Design of technical figures
- Participatory science and blended learning
- Scientific photography
- Taxonomy of West African montane plants
Recent Publications
- Kraberger S., Schmidlin K., Fontenele RS., Walters M. and Varsani A. (2019)Unravelling the single-stranded DNA virome of the New Zealand blackfly.Viruses 11(6).
- Oso S., Walters M., Schlechter RO. and Remus-Emsermann MNP. (2019)Utilisation of hydrocarbons and production of surfactants by bacteria isolated from plant leaf surfaces.FEMS Microbiology Letters 366(6).
- Kraberger S., Geering ADW., Walters M., Martin DP. and Varsani A. (2017)Novel mastreviruses identified in Australian wild rice.Virus Research 238: 193-197..
- Kraberger S., Saumtally S., Pande D., Khoodoo MHR., Dhayan S., Dookun-Saumtally A., Shepherd DN., Hartnady P., Atkinson R. and Lakay FM. (2017)Molecular diversity, geographic distribution and host range of monocot-infecting mastreviruses in Africa and surrounding islands.Virus Research 238: 171-178..
- Walters M., Knight A., Chapman HM., Kraberger S., Stainton D., Varsani A., Bawuro M. and Christopher A. (2017)Novel single-stranded DNA virus genomes recovered from chimpanzee feces sampled from the Mambilla Plateau in Nigeria.American Society for Microbiology 5(9): e01715-e01716..
Technical Services
- Science Communication - Teach and support students and staff in communication design for posters, presentations and publications and video.Effective Poster Design,Communication Design: Graphics and Figures.
- Scientific Photography - Studio and location photos for thesis, posters, presentations and publication.
- Information Design - the translation of complex, unorganised, or unstructured data into valuable, meaningful information.
- Design of Technical Figures - Extensive experience designing figures for scientific publications to effectively communicate complex scientific information within the constraints of journal guidelines.
- Training and troubleshooting for graphics software - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, ImageJ, Acrobat.
- Web - maintain and develop content on the Biological Sciences websites.
- Outreach - Manage, develop and present a range of Biology outreach modules to primary and secondary school students and teachers.
- Coordinate school visits and student tours.
- Lead the annualABC student showcase
Outreach Modules
- Gel electrophoresis laboratory
- Photosynthesis with encapsulated algae laboratory
- Biodiversity monitoring kit
- The Art of Scienctific photography
Communications Outputs (selected)
- Plant photography guideWhich parts of the plant should I photograph. Also available in SpanishWhich parts of the plant should I photograph - Spanish.
- Botanical photography and taxonomy to produceAn illustrated checklist of the flora of Ngel Nyaki Forest Reserve, Nigeria
- Expert Reaction for the Science Media Centre on
- Photography and figure design for a research paper on Human-Assisted Spread of a Maladaptive Behaviour in a Critically Endangered Bird. Featured on
- Design, photography and editing of Biomolecular Interaction CentreBIC Annual Report 2013
- Design and publication of
- Virtual field trip to ancient New Zealand. School outreach project on the Black Robin
InvitedPresentations and Workshops(selected)
- Communication Design,New Zealand Brain Research Institute, July 2021
- Science communication and poster design seminarsRiddet Institute,Nov. 2020 and March 2021
- Workshop on Becoming a trusted broker of knowledge,QuakeCoReConference, Sept 2018
- Workshop onBarriers to communication,Disastrous Doctorates, March 2017
- Adventures in Scientific Photography,Nature Photography Society of New Zealand, Sept 2017
- A beginner’s guide to successfully communicating your scienceworkshops (x3),New Zealand Marine Sciences Societyconference,July 2017
- Twitter 101 workshop,Science Communicators' Association of New Zealand(co-presenter) May 2016
- 252 Black Robins, One Island, Many Stories- A trilogy of stories presented to theChristchurch Bird Club, May 2015
- Figure it Out,Workshop on designing technical figures,Science Communicators Association of New Zealand, March 2015
- Mastering MailChimp Workshop,International Association of Business Communicators, South Island Branch,Sept 2014
- Adventures in Science Communication,Ecopathways seminar seriesat Lincoln University,Aug 2014
- Adventures in Science Communication, Joint event by theInternational Association of Business Communicators(South Island) and TheScience Communicators Association of New Zealand,July 2013
- Introduction to Botanical Photography,Christchurch Botanical Society,Oct 2012
- A Trip to Ancient New Zealand,Canterbury Science Teachers Association,July 2010
- Rangatira Island Life,Christchurch Bird Club,July 2009
UC Teaching
- Biology 305 Practical Field Botany Field Coure,co-teachcourse, focus on plant taxonomy, botanical photography,Annually 2009-2021
- Biology 429 Conservation Genetics,co-teachcourse on species conservation, focus on communicating science,Annually 2016-21
- Chemisty 431Research Methods 2,lecture on communication design,July 2015-2021
- Geography 402 Resilient Cities, workshop on communication design,May 2021
- Biology 411 Research Preparation, lecture on the science of science communication, networking,Feb 2007-2021 Annually
- Biology 211 Invertebrate Biology,insect photography laboratory,Sept 2012, 2014,
- Envronmental Sciences 414Case Studies in Environmental Science,lecture on Communicating as a Scientist,2012-2019,
- He Puna Pūtaiao Science Outreach programme, UC,Nov. 2013-2020Poster Designworkshop
- Waterways Centre for Freshwater Managementpostgraduate students, Communication Design Workshop - Conference Posters- May 2016-20
Awards
- College of Science Outstanding General Staff Award (2018)
- Vice-Chancellors General Staff Development Award (2014)
- QEII Technicians Study Award (2006)
- QEII Technicians Study Award (2002)
Conferences (selected)
- Presentations:
- Communication Design - Effective Graphics- Nov 2015, Science Communicators Association of New Zealand National Conference
- Communication Design - Workshop on Conference Posters, Mar 2014, Science Communicators Association of New Zealand conference.
- British Science Association Science Communication Conference, Manchester, 2015
- (SCANZ) Annual Conferences 2004-2020
- Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) Conference, Capetown 2002, Dunedin 2018
