Acushla Dee Sciascia

Co-leader, Whanake te Kura i Tawhiti Nui

Acushla completed her doctoral studies in 2013 with Massey University and since then has been working in the public sector as a researcher, evaluator and strategist. Dee’s research background has primarily emerged from kaupapa Māori research, specifically Māori negotiating and navigating new technologies and online environments. Her research interests have transitioned into the climate change space. She was on the National Risk Assessment Framework for Climate Change panel and is co-leading the Mātauranga ā iwi programme in the ‘Transitioning Taranaki’ MBIE Endeavour-funded programme. Dee is passionate and committed to championing mātauranga Māori across disciplines, working towards the recognition of the value and mana of our knowledge system in its own right in the sciences, particularly through the Resilience Challenge.