Our people in action with Tūhura Otago Museum - Annual Report 2025

20 June, 2026

The MacDiarmid Institute science engagement coordinator at Tūhura Otago Museum, Dr Marijn Kouwenhoven, continued to weave MacDiarmid Institute content into her local outreach programme throughout the year and was always willing to take our PhD students with her, including a visit to Araiteuru Marae to deliver the Museum's Silver Science project, using the hydrogen fuel cell kits. These Silver Science workshops are designed to engage older members of the public with new and exciting science topics such as hydrogen energy.

The Museum's climate change and Antarctica-focused science showcase travelled to Samoa from 31 March - 12 April, and included the What Can We Do? section, featuring panels and interactives related to work being done by members of the Institute (e.g., solar cells and solar concentrators, MOFs, and better batteries).

Marijn has left the Museum to take up a teaching fellow position at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago (UoO). She has been an incredible asset for us, and has developed significant science engagement content related to Institute activities (e.g. Far From Frozen showcase, pop-up nanoscience workshop), wrapped Institute content into other Tūhura activities (e.g. Tūhura Tuarangi, space science expo), coordinated AMN outreach programs, enthusiastically attended our symposia and has delivered Institute content to many hundreds of children in Aotearoa and the Pacific.

We thank our friend Marijn for all her mahi and wish her all the very best in her new role.