Hannah Kessenich busts ozone hole myths
For World Ozone Day, the University of Otago asked Hannah what people misunderstand about the ozone hole. The short answer: almost everything.
Outreach and Engagement
Building the instrument is only part of the work. A long-term climate monitoring capability for Aotearoa needs people trained to build and use it, industry able to manufacture it, and a public that understands why it matters.
Public and school engagement
With community partnerships across the motu, we bring atmospheric science and photonics to school students and the wider public — interactive, hands-on displays, in-school programmes and public events will show what an ozone measurement is and why the Antarctic stratosphere matters to New Zealand weather. A particular focus is opening pathways into science for Māori and Pacific learners.
Industry partnership
We work with New Zealand companies on the manufacture, commercialisation and deployment, so the capability we develop here can be built and sold from here rather than exported as an idea.
Growing the workforce
In addition to inspiring future undergraduate students, Tuwhiri supports doctoral and masters students across all three research areas. Their training is part of the programme’s purpose, not a by-product of it: the people who work on this instrument are the people who will run the missions that follow.
Who works on this
Simon Arnold
Project Support
Arnold & Woodhall Limited
Simon Arnold is a research strategy and innovation advisor with extensive experience in science, engineering, and technology commercialisation. As Managing Director of [https://arnold.co.nz](https://arnold.co.nz), he works with research organisations, funders, and industry partners on research strategy, roadmapping, and value creation. Simon has held leadership positions across New Zealand's research, energy, manufacturing, and business sectors, and has played a key role in shaping national energy research strategies. His work focuses on turning New Zealand's scientific and engineering capabilities into lasting economic and societal impact.
J
Jessa Barder
Lead, Engagement & Outreach
University of Otago
Leading the community engagement programme, Jessa brings seven years of science engagement experience across a wide variety of subject matter to the team. Currently based in the University of Otago’s Physics Department, she is also the Deputy Director – Community Engagement for Te Whai Ao – Dodd-Walls Centre and supports the department’s engagement activities. Despite the “children’s presenter” energy she often manifests, her particular area of research interest is the impact of relevant, appropriate, and interactive engagement activities on Kiwis over 65.
Patrick Fogarty
Industry — Manufacture & Deployment
Shamrock Industries
Outreach news
Minister Penny Simmonds visits the photonics laboratory
The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology toured the laboratory on 11 August, eight months after her predecessor made the same visit.
Otago Daily Times: clock ticking on bid to replace important weather satellite
The ODT covered Tuwhiri's kick-off meeting and the problem the programme exists to solve — the end of a 25-year atmospheric record with no replacement planned.
Jessa Barder
Minister Shane Reti visits the photonics laboratory
The Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology saw the up-conversion experiment that underpins the Tuwhiri instrument.