Victoria Metcalf is an Antarctic researcher based in New Zealand, best known for her work on Antarctic fishes and invertebrates. She was awarded the 2006 Zonta Science Award.[1]

Victoria Metcalf
NationalityNew Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Otago
Scientific career
FieldsPolar biology
InstitutionsLincoln University

She is also a science communicator, with experience in public and citizen science, and an advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion in STEM.[2][3][4][5]

Metcalf is currently a Strategic Advisor on External Engagement to the New Zealand Royal Society Te Apārangi.[6]

Early life and education

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Metcalf was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and moved to Invercargill when she was 4.[1] She graduated in 1996 with a BSc(Hons) First Class in Biochemistry, University of Otago. In 2002 she completed her PhD in Biochemistry at Christchurch School of Medicine, University of Otago.

Career and impact

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Metcalf is a marine biologist and geneticist. Metcalf’s research focused on fish and shellfish, mainly Antarctic marine life although this extends in some cases to New Zealand marine species.[7][8]

She has made seven trips to the Antarctic and has been researching Antarctic fish and invertebrates since 1998. she also has interest in New Zealand aquaculture species, and is researching how key species have adapted to their environment and the potential impacts of warming temperatures, ocean acidification and pollution.[9]

From 2008 to 2014, she was a lecturer at Lincoln University in New Zealand.

This was followed by a five-year appointment (2015-2020) as the National Coordinator of the Participatory Science Platform, Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor.[10] The flagship Participatory Science Platform.[11][12] seeks to engage communities and scientists in working together on locally meaningful projects, including those involving Citizen Science.[13]

Awards and honours

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References

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  1. ^ a b Zonta Press Release (14 June 2006). "Geneticist Wins Zonta Science Award | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  2. ^ Metcalf, Victoria (20 February 2014). "Forcing mothers to breastfeed is no way to help children". The Conversation. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. ^ Metcalf, Victoria (17 April 2014). "The Easter Bunny tale: fun fiction or harmful myth?". The Conversation. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  4. ^ Metcalf, Victoria (30 September 2014). "Women scientists get vocal about top billing on Twitter". The Conversation. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  5. ^ Woolston, Chris (27 January 2016). "Faking it". Nature. 529 (7587): 555–557. doi:10.1038/nj7587-555a. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 26824109.
  6. ^ "Our Staff". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Dr. Victoria Metcalf". www.sci21.co.nz. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Victoria Metcalf". biotechlearn.org.nz. Biotech Learning Hub. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Extraordinary Kiwis - Clarke in Antarctica". www.nzonscreen.com. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Victoria Metcalf". Curious Minds, He Hihiri i te Mahara. 20 August 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Extreme citizen science in New Zealand". www.curiousminds.nz. Curious Minds. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Connecting communities with science". nz.educationhq.com. EducationHQ New Zealand. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  13. ^ "180 Seconds of Science | 2016". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  14. ^ "Previous Science Award Recipients". zontascience.org.nz. Zonta Club of Wellington. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
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