News
Published 24 September 2024Aurora-chaser talks about winning the Prime Minister's prize for science communication
This video features Dr Ian Griffin CRSNZ, Director of Tūhura Otago Museum, who won the PM’s Science Communication Prize in 2015.
Ian says winning the prize has “opened a lot of doors”. As a keen astronomer, he was able to fly on NASA's SOFIA flying observatory in 2016 to record the Southern Lights or Aurora Australis from up close.
This gave him the idea for the world’s first commercial flight to allow others to see the Aurora Australis.
“None of that would have happened had I not won the prize.”
The prize also enabled Ian to invest in the team of professional science communicators at the Museum.
He says that people love learning about science – “They have an intrinsic fascination. They want to know more.”
Find out more about the Prime Minister's Science Prizes.