International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026
Celebrating the women protecting these waterways.
Every year on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we’re reminded of the power of diverse voices in shaping a healthier planet. At WAI Wānaka, we’re proud to have been guided by many talented women whose curiosity, rigour, and care for our freshwater ecosystems continue to inspire our community. This year, we spoke with Nicky Davis and Jose Cranfield, who share reflections on their journeys in science, the challenges they’ve faced, and the hope they hold for the next generation of kaitiaki (guardians).
Photo: Nicky with a group of children from a local primary school, as part of the Embracing Te Taiao: On the Farm programme.
WAI: Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do in your field of science?
Nicky: Yes, my name is Nicky, and I live rurally in the Upper Clutha catchment, where I strive to live in a way that considers my impact on this beautiful place in everything I do. My work is varied, but it is always nature and holistically based and it must always support my overarching philosophy. I am very lucky that for the past two summers I have been offered the opportunity to carry out Farm Biodiversity Monitoring for WAI Wānaka.
WAI: What first sparked your interest in science?
Nicky: Since a young age I have been fascinated by plants. That grew into a curiosity about how human interaction shapes our environment – positively and sadly, often negatively. But as a species we lived in interdependency with our environment for many thousands of years, there is no reason that cannot happen again.
WAI: What has your journey into this field looked like?
Nicky: My daughter told me when she was two years old, to “feel it from my heart” and in reflection, I think that is what has taken me on this path – a deep sense of stewarding and being responsible for my part in living. For a while, I considered becoming a Medical Herbalist, but it was helping people steer their way into a less intensive method of land management that prompted my decision to study Environmental Science at an agriculturally focused UK University. From there, I advised farmers and land managers directly on implementing those changes.
WAI: Were there any women in science who inspired you along the way?
Nicky: Actually, I think it was being on site with farmers (back in England) that inspired me most, hearing them recall with what felt like sadness, times when they had followed guidance to spray a pesticide on a crop only to see that the following day, all insect life had been killed. It was clearly not what they had really anticipated and not what they had wanted. Giving people opportunities to remedy this was something I valued.
WAI: What excites you most about the work you do?
Nicky: Gathering data about soil and stream health on farms in our catchment provides an opportunity to help farmers show that, despite much public opinion, they are doing their part in protecting our environment. Sure, there’s always ways to make things better, but that is the same for us all. While I’m on many of these sites, I can also check the areas that I was involved in native planting a few years ago and see the change in the landscape, which responds so quickly.
WAI: How does your work contribute to making a difference for others or the environment?
Nicky: My hope above all else is that in some way, however tiny, it inspires people to make small changes to the way they see the world. We live in a very privileged time, yet we seem to have lost much of the joy that is so simple to achieve by being in deep connection with our land.
WAI: Why do you think it’s important to celebrate and support girls and women in science?
Nicky: I think it’s time to celebrate females and males alike who are pushing the boundaries in the way science sees all lifeforms – to respect and work with, rather than the more ‘recent’ science of imposing upon.
Photo: Jose with a group of preschoolers as part of WAI’s Education programme.
Jose was our Urban Lead until October 2025. In her five years with WAI Wānaka, she had roles as a volunteer, in Health and Safety, Education Lead and Community Connector. She is also an active member of the Bremner Bay Catchment Group, working on water monitoring and communications.
WAI: Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do in your field of science?
Jose: I’ve lived in Wānaka for 11 years (but visited for 39!) and am mum to two primary age children. We love days out at Bike Glendhu as a family and getting out on the lake. My creative outlet is playing Oboe and Piano in local classical music groups.
I like connecting dots, whether that be those invisible to the naked eye in chemistry or groups of people and businesses in the community. Essentially, I’d now call myself a science communicator. This often looks like distilling research into information relevant for the community, creating inspiring ways to relate science to our day-to-day activities; or helping create and inform monitoring plans and science-based programmes to deliver the desired strategic outcomes.
WAI: What first sparked your interest in science?
Jose: I’d always been quite good at maths but struggled to connect this to any interesting real world applications through school and found science to be much more practical and fascinating. I’ve always been drawn to chemistry though, I love understanding how the material world interacts… I could chat about the surface tension of water for much longer than you’d like to!
WAI: What has your journey into this field looked like?
Jose: I actually did a music degree when I first left school (I only achieved 12/24 credits for chemistry in year 13) and then when I was 21 decided to go back and completed my BSc [Bachelor of Science]. I was interested in the food and beverage industry, winemaking, dairy etc… but not really sure, so a degree in chemistry (with loads of biology papers included) seemed a broader route to take. I did lots of tutoring throughout my degree and found it a wonderful tool for learning the basics but also honing my skill in communicating science!
And as often happens, my path altered as I found I had an interest in all sorts of manufacturing and was particularly taken by the surface chemistry at work in Pulp and Paper… so that’s where I ended up as a grad! After a while we moved south and channelling my Scottish roots became a whisky distiller for a while. But being part of the Wānaka community I felt I could be doing more for the future of this area, and for my children, and began on my science comms and behaviour change journey with WAI Wānaka (connecting with many in the Wānaka community!).
WAI: Were there any women in science who inspired you along the way?
Jose: Professor Kate McGrath was a pretty inspirational mentor during my time at Victoria University, she is truely passionate about the work she does and a fabulous educator/science communicator.
And all the young female scientists we’ve had as interns and advisors in my time with WAI. They’ve all brought unique and interesting perspectives to their research.
WAI: What excites you most about the work you do?
Jose: That it kick starts movement. Understanding science and connecting it to practical things we all do, can be really powerful and is important for change. Research can only be useful if people know about it and act on it.
WAI: Is there a project or achievement you’re especially proud of?
Jose: I think I’m more proud of the people than one particular project. The teachers who took on board new projects, the team who rally behind my ideas, the community members who turn up and give their time to help, the research scientists who have been willing to work with community!
WAI: Why do you think it’s important to celebrate girls and women in science?
Jose: Because it’s inspiring to see what others are doing and attracting more girls and women to science, engineering and technology creates a more inclusive community. It might also change what specific research gets prioritised, how it gets communicated, and in turn, the direction of innovation in the future.
Learn more about the work we do with farms, biodiversity monitoring and education here.
View all blog posts and newsletters >