Climate Change Knowledge Broker: Kate Turner

In a series of short profiles we are spotlighting the work of our engagement team with a focus on how they are available to support our researchers.

Kate Turner is our Climate Change Knowledge Broker. She supports researchers and stakeholders to access and understand Challenge datasets, and to translate the bigger picture of climate data.

Kate Turner

Ko wai koe?

I tipu ake au i runga i te haumaru o Kapukataumaka, i Ōtepoti, e kaukau ana i te wai pūangi o Te Tai-o-Araiteuru. I grew up in Ōtepoti, where the change of the seasons is clear, from the still, cold winters to the blossoming of kōwhai and daffodils reminding us that the days will warm. Which I miss, now living in blustery, (almost evergreen) Te Whanganui-a-Tara!

I am a sea ice scientist by training, and I am always looking for the interface of the science with what it means for people.

When did you join the DSC and how do you describe what you do in one sentence?

I’ve been with the DSC as Climate Change Knowledge Broker for two years now, and my role varies depending on who I am working with. I support access to data and information, both from projects out to users, and into projects where needed. I am an advocate for data and information to be open and accessible (where appropriate), and am working on ways to facilitate this.

I also work on external engagement, including events with central and local government and sector stakeholders to create space for researchers to reach into different user groups that their research can support and inform, directly championing DSC research at different hui, and developing larger synthesis style events.

Why might a researcher want to get in touch with you?

I am based at NIWA, so where there are links into some of the climate science research or researchers, whether that’s NIWA work or otherwise, I’ll facilitate connections where I can! Or if you have data from your project you want to make available to stakeholders, please get in touch.

We also create communications resources such as info and data sheets, and are open to suggestions for what would be useful. We work as a team a lot, especially to connect people up and with different audiences, so feel free to reach out and we will do our best to help.

When you’re not working at DSC, where are you most likely to be?

I play capoeira and dance with Wellington Batucada which bring me a lot of joy, as well as simple things like reading, gardening, creating beautiful things, and hanging out by the ocean.

How can people find you, and what’s your availability like?

Email is best in the first instance. Like everyone, we work a lot over Zoom/Teams, but I am up for face to face hui where possible. I work full time at the moment, though try to block my time so I am not constantly on email.

Contact me on: [email protected], 027 2338023