The best way to predict the future is to create it.
Dr. Michelle Dickinson (MNZM) is a force of nature in the world of nanotechnology and materials engineering. Her career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to innovation, education, and empowering others.
For over two decades, Michelle has been at the forefront of technological breakthroughs, tackling challenges across various fields - from medical applications to cutting-edge solutions for startups and established corporations.
Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a lifelong love for science, Michelle established New Zealand's only nanomechanical testing laboratory. Here, she dives deep into the intricate world of the minuscule, helping companies translate groundbreaking ideas into tangible realities. Her expertise is highly sought after by investors and venture capitalists who rely on her insights to navigate the high-tech investment landscape. However, Michelle emphasises that true success in technology transcends the brilliance of the innovations themselves; it hinges on clear communication of science and fostering diversity within engineering teams.
Michelle's personal story is one of triumph. Having overcome challenging circumstances through the power of education, she co-founded Nanogirl Labs with a mission: to make STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) not just understandable, but truly engaging for everyone. Nanogirl Labs is more than an educational platform; it's a movement that ignites a passion for science. Through captivating content and interactive learning experiences, Michelle empowers individuals from all backgrounds to not only understand technology but also become creators in this exciting field. Initiatives like the bestselling "The Kitchen Science Cookbook" and STEM education programs in the Pacific Islands are testaments to her dedication to breaking down barriers and fostering scientific exploration.
Michelle's ability to translate complex concepts into clear and engaging narratives extends beyond the lab. As a captivating keynote speaker, she shares her insights on the future of education, work, and technology. Her presentations, brimming with real-world examples, make advancements in AI and robotics not only understandable but also thrilling. Michelle's talks are more than informative; they inspire and equip audiences with the tools needed to thrive in a world of constant technological evolution.
Her numerous accolades, including the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, the Sir Peter Blake Leadership Award, and the Women of Influence Award for Science and Innovation, speak volumes about her impact on science and society.
In a world where technology races forward at breakneck speed, Michelle's guidance becomes even more valuable. She champions curiosity as the driving force behind innovation, demonstrating that exploration fueled by wonder leads to the most meaningful technological advancements. Her story is a powerful narrative of relentless pursuit, transformative education, and the unwavering belief that everyone has the potential to be a creator in the ever-evolving world of technology. Dr. Michelle Dickinson's journey is a beacon of inspiration, illuminating the path towards a future brimming with possibility.
Talking Points
Communicating for Impact: The Power of Curiosity
Staying across the latest research is increasingly key to effective decision making for business - whether driving innovation, finding new opportunities, or shaping practice. With over two million peer-reviewed scientific articles published each year across over 30,000 academic journals, sifting through the information can seem like an impossible task. Communicating science in a way that's both impactful and engaging is a critical bridge between research and industry. Shifting conversations from closed research communities into the public arena is paramount if we want evidence based science to be used in practice. How do you communicate scientific research in a way that maximises engagement and impact? Dr Michelle Dickinson MNZM will discuss the importance of inspiring and fostering curiosity to cut through the noise and drive meaningful, lasting change.
Communicating for Impact: The Power of Curiosity
Re-Wiring For The Future
Technology is rapidly effecting the way that almost all industries do business. With these changes, many human centred functions are also changing, and in some cases being replaced by technology. How can we prepare for the future and what skills can we work on today to ensure that our knowledge is re-wired and ready for the jobs of the future?
Re-Wiring For The Future
How to be an Innovator
The stereotype of an innovator is often very different to the reality. Having written a book about innovators and their inventions (No 8 Recharged) and working for some of the most successful innovators in the world, Dr Michelle Dickinson has collected her top lessons for how to innovate in all industries. The key is that innovation isn't about ideas it's about making ideas happen.
How to be an Innovator
Public Speaking For Introverts
The world seems to be designed for extroverts yet some of the world's best innovations have come from deep-thinking introverts. So how do naturally quiet people find their voice? Dr Michelle Dickinson has navigated this complex world as an introvert in the tech sector to an international public speaker and through tried and tested lessons learned from experience (and other introverts) about the best ways to have a voice while still staying true to yourself.
Public Speaking For Introverts
Curiosity how we lost it and why it's so important
Before going to school, a child asks up to 100 questions an hour, by the age of 11 this has dropped to almost zero. So what is curiosity anyway, and why is it so important? Dr Michelle Dickinson will take you on a curiosity driven hands-on journey to experience how great ideas happen through trying, failing and thinking differently.
Curiosity how we lost it and why it's so important
Shaping technology to make the world work better
The pace of technological change is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, and with each evolution comes new claims around innovation holding the key to a more promising future. With so much new information to digest, the challenge of staying across all the emerging trends while discerning which technologies will truly make a meaningful impact can seem overwhelming. In her presentation, Dr Michelle Dickinson will offer expert insights into navigating the complex landscape of technology and share her findings around the core principles of the innovation cycle.
Shaping technology to make the world work better
Technology Trends
Delves into future technology trends, emphasising how these trends stem from the convergence of current business and societal shifts. Through her expertise as a nanotechnologist and engineer, Michelle explores how businesses can strategise to adapt to these emerging trends. She highlights the significance of customer-centricity in technology investment decisions and the role of curiosity in driving innovation within organisations.Technology Trends
Key Takeaways:
Convergence of Trends:
• Future technology trends are shaped by the intersection of current trends in both business and society.
• Businesses need to anticipate and plan for these trends to stay competitive in the future market.
Customer-Centric Technology Investment:
• With numerous technologies available, it's challenging to determine the best investments for optimal returns.
• Michelle illustrates through case studies that neglecting customer needs in technology decisions poses the greatest risk to businesses.
• Emphasises the importance of aligning technology investments with customer preferences and demands.
The Power of Curiosity:
• Curiosity is a fundamental driver of innovation.
• Children's innate curiosity fosters limitless ideas due to their absence of fear of failure.
• Despite this, curiosity tends to diminish with seniority in business.
• Academic research supports the importance of curiosity in fostering business innovation.
• Michelle offers tips to encourage and harness curiosity within the workplace environment.
Innovating the Future of Tomorrow
Michelle discusses the rapid advancements in technology and their impact on workplaces and daily lives. Emphasises the importance of staying ahead of the curve in a world of constant change. Drawing from real-world examples, Michelle demystifies innovation, highlighting that it can be both accessible and enjoyable. The talk aims to inspire and empower individuals, whether business leaders navigating industry shifts or individuals curious about the future, to thrive in the evolving landscape of technological innovation.Innovating the Future of Tomorrow
Key Takeaways:
Definition of Innovation:
• Innovation is crucial for business survival in a fast-paced world.
• It's often misunderstood due to its broad and unspecific nature.
• Innovation should be seen as a process rather than a vague concept.
Challenges of Innovation:
• Innovation is typically inefficient, slow, and expensive.
• Traditional success metrics may stifle innovation.
• Failure is inherent in the innovation process and should be embraced.
Keeping Up with Technology:
• Technologies like AI and robotics are constantly evolving and impacting industries.
• It's challenging to discern between clickbait headlines and genuinely impactful technologies.
• The speaker offers a simple guide to assess the relevance of new technologies for businesses.
Video
Nanogirl, My Quest to Become a Superhero | Dr Michelle Dickinson
How to become a superhero is the story of how Dr Michelle Dickinson became a nanotechnologist and an engineer through striving to follow her dreams and reach her goals.Dr Michelle Dickinson & Astronaut Chris Hadfield
Dr Michelle Dickinson sat down with Astronaut Cmdr. Chris Hadfield in Auckland at the IBM Think New Zealand event to ask him some questions from young New Zealanders about space and science. She then gave him him his first feijoa experience and the results were delightful!Dr Michelle Dickinson on Curiosity | Saxton Speakers
Join Dr Michelle Dickinson in this captivating and playful exploration of curiosity and innovation, as she demonstrates the power of asking the right questions and breaking free from conventional thinking. Michelle engages her audience in interactive games that reveal how we are conditioned by our education system to prioritise knowing the right answers over embracing the freedom of curiosity. Through storytelling and real-life examples, she explains why innovation thrives when we let go of the need to have all the answers and instead, embrace a mindset of exploration.Breaking it down - changing climate with Professor Tim Naish | Dr Michelle Dickinson
In this snippet from Breaking It Down with Dr Michelle Dickinson, Michelle interviews Professor Tim Naish Director of the Antarctic Research Centre at Victoria University of Wellington about our changing climate and what we can do.COVID-19 and the Vaccine
Evolving With AI | Dr Michelle Dickinson | Saxton Speakers
Explore how AI can bring creativity and humour into our daily lives with Dr Michelle Dickinson. In this talk, she shares her unique perspective on engaging with AI technology, from playful applications like a “virtual AI husband” to practical uses such as creating meals from leftovers. Through her stories, Michelle explains AI's potential to streamline tasks while showing where human judgement remains crucial, offering a balanced view of how AI complements our lives.Dr Michelle Dickinson received overwhelmingly positive feedback for her energetic and engaging presentation style. Attendees appreciated her "out of the box" approach, particularly regarding ... keep reading Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA)
Michelle was brilliant! She adapted her content to suit our audience and was a very dynamic and engaging speaker. She was the absolute highlight of our conference.
Michelle has such a warm and engaging style, our audience was captivated for the full hour and would have happily continued for another hour!
Michelle is an inspiration and has a way of taking complex concepts and communicating them in memorable and approachable ways. Michelle is an incredible person who will reframe your understand of the world and change the way that you think about what's possible.
We have tried for a few years to get Dr Michelle Dickinson, the wait was worth it. She was exceptional and the team really enjoyed the presentation alongside her husband Joe Davis. Great team work, highly rated.
The best keynote speaker I personally have seen in 10 years. Michelle was engaging, funny, easy to listen to and an all round lovely person. The delegates have not stopped talking about how excellent her presentation was.
Michelle is a pleasure to work with. This is the second time she has been involved in an Auckland Conversations that I was working on and it was such a smooth process. She knew just exactly what we needed to tie the discussion back to local government elections and I think she was the perfect person to MC this event.
