To replace the self-fulfilling prophecy that space is “congested, contested and competitive”, we need a new mantra, one that offers solutions: “Communication, cooperation and collaboration”. Check out my Substack this week and say the mantra with me. open.substack.com/pub/spacecit...

Reading this with my 7-month-old 🚀 Told him the astronaut growing plants in space was @sakessans.bsky.social 👩🏼‍🚀

Hey folks - if you missed it at the Writer's Festival #TheCovidResponse is heading back to Auckland. Join Toby Manhire, @siouxsiew.bsky.social and me to hear about the book and what the future holds at Auckland Uni on August 25 from 6pm (doors open at 5.30) www.bwb.co.nz/events/the-c...

Happy International Moon Day! 🌕👩🏼‍🚀 📸 taken with my 🔭

Spaceportopia now officially has a Wikipedia page! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spacepo... P.s. If you haven't read "Astrotopia" by Mary-Jane Rubenstein, I highly recommend it.

Their comments arise from our latest findings on Aotearoa NZ's aerospace sector and sustainability with @sarahhbickerton.bsky.social & team: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Our members @drpriaero.bsky.social and @catherineq.bsky.social quoted in @thespinoff.bsky.social on NZ's MethaneSat involvement: thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin...

Read the latest paper on successful launch site planning co-authored by our lead @drpriaero.bsky.social 🗞 csps.aerospace.org/papers/space...

1/ Successful spaceports need to work not just for rockets — but for people and places, too. 🚀🌏 Excited to share our latest paper on spaceport site selection, co-authored with the brilliant Karen L. Jones & Dr. Lindsay DeMarchi @ Aerospace Corporation + expert contributors from across the sector. 🧵👇

New paper day! In 'Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery', we show that scaling up use of launch vehicles 🚀 has a point where the healing of the ozone layer is affected 🧪🛰️ Open access, free to read & share

Exclusive: New Zealand government sued over ‘dangerously inadequate’ emissions reduction plan www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

This was such an interesting project to supervise and I got to work with the best student 😊 Can't wait to see this work published soon. 🛰🚀🌏

Why should NZ care about space sustainability? Our research lead @drpriaero.bsky.social introduces our work in this research impact video commissioned by Uni of Auckland. youtu.be/gnI8x2UUR1Q?...

The start of a new adventure! With our newest crew member of Spaceship Earth, William, who landed on 28th January 2025 🥳

From Ngāi Tahu Kaiwhakahaere Justin Tipa's powerful Waitangi speech: 'When there’s an absence of true leadership, voices that represent comparatively simpler and shallower viewpoints, begin to shine through.' ngaitahu.iwi.nz/connect-2/co...

Powerful oral submissions opposing the Treaty Principles Bill this morning - listen live: www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic... (Don’t want to share the photo of Seymour feat. on the RNZ link... so here's a 2017 kōrero w. Moana Jackson on constitutional transformation www.converge.org.nz/pma/mjdec201...)

Spotlight on our recent analysis: "The intersection of space and sustainability: the need for a transdisciplinary and bi-cultural approach" Space sustainability is a complex issue, & as we watch burning rocket bodies light up the sky, space debris mitigation tends to dominate the discussion. [1/9]

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Comfort watching Contact 🌌🛸

'In 1956, the National Science Foundation even published an article with the title: “Women are NOT for Engineering.” 🧪

Welcome to the Sustainable Space Initiative! We are a multidisciplinary research initiative, formed in 2022, hosted by the University of Auckland. Our work takes a holistic approach to space sustainability across four main areas: systems thinking, policy, public engagement and technical solutions.

Submissions for the Regulatory Standards Bill close at 11.59pm TONIGHT, friends. Have you made a submission? Here are some tips / useful resources - the @etangata.bsky.social article below is a great start too #kikorangi

This is a long, in-depth read into the troubling issues that have emerged in an extreme environment here on Earth: Antarctica. Issues that require resolution, and a huge shift in behaviours/cultures. Imagine wanting to send people to Mars (even for exploration) without resolving these issues. 🔭🧪

Good piece by @natureportfolio.bsky.social. The erosion of thinking time—driven by admin, bureaucracy, industry agendas, and unrealistic output targets—stifles curiosity-led science. These pressures undermine innovation and the intellectual freedom vital for real progress. 🧪🌱🌍 #ScienceIsNotBusiness

Merry Christmas if you celebrate and ngā mihi o te wā! Painting practice this holiday based on a gouache artist's work I really love (Sharon Shock)

What if space junk could tell its own story? 📚💙🪐🧪

Helpful explanation for types of “disciplinary” research. How difficult has it been for anyone to publish their -inter or -trans disciplinary research #academicsky #booksky #psychology

The Vancouver Recommendations on Space Mining: to help ensure that space mining, wherever and whenever it takes place, does so in a safe and sustainable manner. 🧪🪐

Final push to finish one last research paper for 2024! Note to self, work with co-authors who are actually willing to write and finish sections on time, not just leave unfinished thoughts all over the manuscript 🙃 Wish me strength 🙏🏽

Obviously I come at this from the science perspective foremost and in that light this analysis is so on point - there is huge opportunity to build lasting alliances in the face of everything happening...if we can avoid the temptation to see science/research as special or unfairly targeted.

New: The Government’s new climate plan relies on unproven methane-busting technology and partially disproven carbon capture schemes for as much as half of its promised greenhouse emissions reductions. newsroom.co.nz/2024/12/11/g...

I want men in science to think about this. Think about the biases you have grown up with so much you're probably not even aware you have them. 🧪 #WomenInSTEM

"...they’re cutting funding to the very disciplines where Māori and Pasifika researchers are most strongly represented. This isn’t just about disciplines – it’s about who gets to research, whose knowledge counts, whose stories matter": Selina Tusitala Marsh newsroom.co.nz/2024/12/09/a...

"This decision defunds Māori research and researchers by stealth" Tahu Kukutai in my latest for @science.org on cuts to the Marsden Fund, NZ's only fund for "blue-sky" research; features Paul Spoonley, @nicgaston.bsky.social et al www.science.org/content/arti...

Initial analysis of the impact on Marsden Fund changes on success rates for Māori researchers, with a link through to modelled data based on the 2024 funding round here: www.maramatanga.ac.nz/publication/...

This thread from @nicgaston.bsky.social on the gutting of humanities, social science, and blue skies research in New Zealand is a must-read.

This government is not interested in real impact; they are interested in short-term economic gains at the expense of long-term societal benefit. Cutting funding for humanities and social sciences risks stifling the interdisciplinary innovation and critical thinking needed to drive true impact.

Incredibly short-sighted decision-making. Dare I say, they should have consulted some *social scientists* on the ramifications of such a decision, and the economic risks (which they value so much) of reduced capabilities in the humanities.

Bodies like the Royal Society are made up of scientists & researchers. What does it mean when Fellows or members leave? Or don’t ever join? Do we need new representative bodies or - what next?

Come do a PhD with some amazing people in important research areas! 🟢 with A/Prof Kelly Blincoe & me in inclusive engineering (engclusion.nz) 🟢 with A/Prof Annika Seppälä & me on ozone modelling to understand effects of satellite reentry (SSI.org.nz/current-opportunities)

In 1963, as the space race was taking off, the influential political philosopher Hannah Arrendt challenged scientists over their shift away from a humanistic focus to worlds beyond. 🧪

Excellent thread by @ijayas.bsky.social

A sad day for STEM in NZ - wishing the Nanogirl team the best with their next steps 💔 www.stuff.co.nz/business/360...

2019 really does now show when launch rates began to accelerate. We quantify the world's rocket emissions for 2019 in this new paper 🚀🧪

What a day. 40,000+ people marching together, in opposition to our racist right-wing government. The atmosphere around the city was incredible. I won't forget this for as long as I live. #toitutetiriti

Come do a PhD with some amazing people in important research areas! 🟢 with A/Prof Kelly Blincoe & me in inclusive engineering (engclusion.nz) 🟢 with A/Prof Annika Seppälä & me on ozone modelling to understand effects of satellite reentry (SSI.org.nz/current-opportunities)

I seem to be on some starter packs so thought it’s probably about time I did a little bit of an introductory thread. It might end up being a bit long and go to places you didn’t expect! Here goes. Kia ora, I’m Siouxsie, a microbiologist and bioluminescence enthusiast in Aotearoa New Zealand.

I talk about the artificial objects you might see streaking through the skies #SpaceJunk 🧪 www.abc.net.au/news/science...