To celebrate women in science and raise money for our Women in STEM Scholarship, The Association for Women in the Sciences is hosting viewings of the “Juliet Gerrard, Science in Dark Times”. This event is open to everyone.

Over her distinguished career, Dame Juliet Gerrard – as the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor – has become a central figure in the way New Zealand reacts to crises, providing the scientific foundations from which our leaders take guidance. Recorded over three extraordinary years (that saw some of the most significant local and global emergencies of our time), documentary filmmaker Shirley Horrocks captures the woman at the forefront of it all.

The film examines Juliet’s unorthodox trajectory, from graduating with first-class honours at Oxford to her marriage and 1997 move to Christchurch, and welcomes us into the scientist’s laboratory and “bunker”, the national emergency headquarters in the basement of the Beehive. On-the-job footage is supplemented with quiet, unobserved moments: at home, or holidaying on Great Barrier Island. The filmmaker’s intimate access presents a portrait of the woman as both an immaculate professional and humorous, down-to-earth individual.

Horrocks, a veteran filmmaker of 30 years and known for her documentaries on artists, continues her pivot to scientific subjects. Having previously examined the work of physicist Sir Paul Callaghan and the Transit of Venus astronomy event, she now shines a light on a pioneering woman, accomplished scientist and remarkable yet underexposed role model.

AWIS is grateful to Director and Producer Shirley Horrocks for providing the film and pleased that Shirley will join us on the night to introduce the film.

Thank you to the screening sponsors Te Pūnaha Matatini, ESR, and the Division of Health Sciences, University of Otago for supporting these screenings

The documentary was sponsored by the Bio-Protection Research Centre, MacDiarmid Institute, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, NZ Food Safety Science & Research Centre, Riddet Institute, Scion, Stats NZ, The University of Auckland, University of Otago, and Victoria University of Wellington, with additional support from AgResearch, ESR (Institute of Environmental Science and Research), and NIWA. The film was completed with the assistance of a Feature Film Finishing Fund Grant from the New Zealand Film Commission.