Dr Jean Fleming

Jean Fleming is enjoying her new role as a science communicator at the University of Otago.  It has been a steep learning curve, but this old dog has definitely learnt some new tricks!  The Centre for Science Communication (www.sciencecommunication.info) is now up and humming, with over 50 MSciComm students in the three streams of film-making, creative non-fiction book writing and popularizing science.  Jean is also a staff member in the Department of Anatomy & Structural BIology, where she is establishing new research directions and contributing to the teaching of the first year Health Science students.

Jean trained originally in Biochemistry at Victoria University of Wellington, but developed a lifelong interest in reproductive biology while completing an MSc and PhD at the University of Otago's Wellington School of Medicine, in parallel with becoming a mother. Her research on activin and inhibin gene expression in the Booroola sheep led to the award of the first Zonta International Medal for Women in Science in 1990.

Jean's current research focuses on the apparent molecular relationship between the breast cancer tumour suppressor gene BRCA1 and CYP19-aromatase: when BRCA1 is mutated or silenced, aromatase expression is activated in breast tissue, resulting in increased oestrogen production.  Jean is interested in whether this relationship exists in the epithelial cells of the ovary and Fallopian tube and if so, whether this can provide new insights into the cell of origin of epithelial ovarian cancer. 

After her experience as a Commissioner with the New Zealand Royal Commission on Genetic Modification in 2000-2001, Jean’s Science and Society interests focussed on the perceived impression of scientists as untrustworthy, and on analysis of the concept that humans shouldn't "play God". These days she is interested in the community’s response to the big issues of today, such as climate change and carbon emissions. She is studying people’s knowledge about and desire to find out about the science behind such issues, in order to develop effective science communication methods. She continues to work with the Dunedin International Science Festival and is on the organising committee for Otago’s secondary school programme Hands-on Science. Her commitment to taking her science to the community led to the award of a Suffrage Medal in 1993, a Royal Society of NZ Silver Science & Technology Medal in 1998 and an ONZM for services to science in 2002.