{{Distinguish|Susie Wiles}} {{short description|New Zealand microbiologist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox scientist | name = Siouxsie Wiles | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|MNZM}} | image = Siouxsie Wiles MNZN (cropped).jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Wiles after her investiture as [[MNZM]] in 2019 | birth_date = | birth_name = Susanna Wiles | birth_place = United Kingdom | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (death date then birth date) --> | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} --> | other_names = | citizenship = | nationality = | fields = [[Microbiology]], [[science education]] | workplaces = [[University of Auckland]] | patrons = | alma_mater = [[University of Edinburgh]] | thesis_title = | thesis_url = | thesis_year = | doctoral_advisor = | academic_advisors = | doctoral_students = | notable_students = | known_for = {{Plainlist| *Director of the Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab * Author of ''Antibiotic Resistance: The End of Modern Medicine?'' Book}} | author_abbrev_bot = | author_abbrev_zoo = | awards = {{Plainlist| * 3Rs Prize (NC3Rs) (2005) * [[Prime Minister's Science Prizes|Prime Minister's Prize]] for Science Media Communication (2013) * [[Callaghan Medal]] (2013) * [[Peter Blake (sailor)|Blake Medal]] (2016) * [[NZ Skeptics|New Zealand Skeptics]]' Skeptic of the Year Award (2016) * [[New Zealander of the Year Awards|New Zealander of the Year]] (2021)}} | signature = <!--(filename only)--> | signature_alt = | website = {{url|https://about.me/skeptimoo}} | footnotes = | spouse = Steven Galbraith | children = 1 }} '''Siouxsie Wiles''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|}} (born '''Susanna Wiles''')<ref>{{cite tweet |user=SiouxsieW |author=Siouxsie Wiles |number=1250531024582217729 |title=He introduced me to Siouxsie & the Banshees & started spelling my name that way. And it stuck. Even my grandmother used it. She almost never spelt it right. But she always gave it a go. Eventually I changed it officially. |date=16 April 2020 |accessdate=1 September 2020}}</ref> is a British [[microbiologist]]. Her specialist areas are [[infectious diseases]] and [[bioluminescence]]. She is based in [[New Zealand]]. She is the head of [[University of Auckland]]'s Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab.
==Early life== Wiles was born in the [[United Kingdom]] and grew up in the UK and [[South Africa]]. Her mother is a retired social worker and her father is a business owner.{{R|"InterviewNZHerald2013"}}
==Education== [[File:Ebola virus virion.jpg|thumb|left|200px|[[Ebola virus]] virion]] [[Ebola]] was the microbe that started Wiles' interest in microbiology when she was a teenager. During her [[TEDx|TEDxChristchurch]] talk in 2015 she said:
{{blockquote|"This is the microbe that got me hooked on microbiology in the first place, because it's both amazing and utterly terrifying. I was a teenager when I first read about Ebola and all I could think of was: How does this turn the human body into a virus producing factory?"{{R|"TEDxChristchurchWiles"}}}}
The book ''[[The Hot Zone]]'' by [[Richard Preston]], which focuses on Ebola, was what made Wiles focus her education on [[medical microbiology]].{{R|"UniEDWiles"}}
Wiles studied at the [[University of Edinburgh]] and graduated in 1997 with a BSc(Hons) in medical microbiology. While an undergraduate, she received a Nuffield Scholarship and worked in the university's School of Biological Sciences.{{R|"UniEDWiles"}} Wiles received her PhD from [[Edinburgh Napier University]], conducting research at the [[Centre for Ecology and Hydrology]] (previously known as the Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology), which is located in [[Oxford, England|Oxford]].{{R|"PMSciencePrize"}}{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}}
During her PhD Wiles first used bioluminescence to create biosensors to monitor the health of environmentally beneficial [[microbes]].{{R|"RoyalSociety4"}}
==Professional life== After completing her PhD, Wiles moved to [[Imperial College London]] for a post-doctoral research position on [[tuberculosis]]. In 2007 she became a lecturer at Imperial College's Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunity,{{R|"DPMCHonours"}} and in 2009 was awarded a Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship from the [[Health Research Council of New Zealand]] and moved to the University of Auckland.{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}} Wiles is the head of the university's Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab.{{R|"InterviewNZHerald2013"}}{{R|"UniEDWiles"}}
In 2013 she won the [[Prime Minister's Science Prizes|Prime Minister's Prize]] for Science Media Communication which includes prize money of {{Currency|100000|NZD}}.{{R|"InterviewNZHerald2013"}}{{R|"PMSciencePrize"}}
Wiles started the company ''Brightenz'' that sells kits with which one can create bioluminescent art at home.{{R|"StNMag"}}
In 2018 Wiles became science ambassador for House of Science, a not-for-profit venture for raising [[science literacy]] in local communities.{{R|"RoyalSociety2"}} She was also reelected as general Councillor of the [[Royal Society Te Apārangi]] in 2018.{{R|"RoyalSociety3"}} Two years later she was on the list of the BBC's [[100 Women (BBC)|100 Women]] announced on 23 November 2020.{{R|"BBC 100 women"}}
Wiles is also working on finding new [[antibiotics]] by screening 10,000 New Zealand fungi for possible medical use.{{R|"RNZEndofAntibiotics"}}
===Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab=== [[File:Antibiotic sensitivity and resistance.jpg|thumb|right|[[Antibiotic resistance|Antibiotic resistant]] bacteria]] Wiles leads the Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab at the [[University of Auckland]] which focuses on how glowing bacteria can advance the understanding of [[Antibiotic prophylaxis#Microbial infections|microbial infections]] such as [[food poisoning]], tuberculosis and hospital [[super bug (bacteria)|superbugs]].{{R|"PMSciencePrize"}}
The bioluminescence is used to speed up the process of developing new antibiotics utilising the light emitted from the bacteria, because only living bacteria emit light.{{R|"RoyalSociety4"}} About her work Wiles says "My career has been built on making nasty bacteria bioluminescent and using them for all sorts of things, including finding new medicines".{{R|"StNMag"}} New Zealand has some of the highest rates of infectious diseases among developed countries. Globally 700,000 people die each year from drug-resistant diseases.{{R|"NZHeraldSuperbugs"}}
===Science communication=== [[File:Siousxie Wiles and PM Jacinda Ardern.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Siousxie Wiles and Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]]]] Wiles is passionate about demystifying science for the general public. She is an active blogger on [[Sciblogs.co.nz]], an online podcaster, a commentator on [[Radio New Zealand]] and appears on TV shows to discuss science stories in the news.{{R|"UniEDWiles"}} She was one of the eight scientists who fronted the "Great New Zealand Science Project", the New Zealand government's public engagement programme leading to the [[National Science Challenges]] in 2012.{{R|"PMSciencePrize"}}{{R|"DPMCHonours"}}{{R|"RoyalSociety4"}}
She commissioned, co-wrote, and appeared with her daughter in the TVNZ online children's science show ''Siouxsie & Eve Investigate''.{{R|"TVNZ"}}
From 2010 until 2016 Wiles was co-host of the ''Completely Unnecessary Skeptical Podcast'' which focused on [[skeptical movement|skepticism]] in New Zealand.{{R|"TheCUSP"}}
She has also used art and film to communicate scientific ideas: in 2011 she collaborated with Australian graphic artist Luke Harris to produce a series of animated films featuring bioluminescent creatures and their uses in science. The animations on [[NASA]]'s use of [[fireflies]] for the search of [[extraterrestrial life]] was selected for inclusion in the 6th Imagine Science Film Festival in New York in 2013, and the Goethe Institute's 2014 Science Film Festival. Wiles collaborated with artist Rebecca Klee on an installation at the [[Auckland]] Art in the Dark Festival in 2013, which featured [[Hawaiian bobtail squid]] and [[Aliivibrio fischeri]].{{R|"InterviewNZHerald2013"}}{{R|"UniEDWiles"}}{{R|"PMSciencePrize"}} Wiles thinks that relevant science education should start in primary school, for increasing science literacy and interest in the field more generally.{{R|"RoyalSociety2"}}
[[File:Covid-19-curves-graphic-social-v3.gif|thumb|Flatten the Curve: How simple public health measures save lives from [[Coronavirus disease 2019]]]]
Her 2015 science communication projects include the Biolumination II exhibition.{{R|"BioluminationII"}}
Wiles is active in the skeptical movement having received the Skeptic of the Year Award from the [[NZ Skeptics|New Zealand Skeptics]] in 2016 and attended several NZ Skeptic Conferences. She has also spoken out against [[Anti-vaccine activism|anti-vaxxers]] and other public health related issues.{{R|"SkepInqNZConf"}}{{R|"NZSkeptics"}}
In 2018, Wiles was named as a finalist for [[New Zealander of the Year Awards]] for her work on antibiotic-resistant superbugs and infectious diseases.{{R|"NZAwards"}} She won the award in 2021 for her leadership in the public communication of New Zealand's COVID-19 response.<ref name="auto1">{{cite news |title=Siouxsie Wiles 'proud' and 'privileged' to be crowned 2021 New Zealander of the year |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/siouxsie-wiles-proud-and-privileged-crowned-2021-new-zealander-year |access-date=1 April 2021 |work=[[1News]] |date=1 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401020957/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/siouxsie-wiles-proud-and-privileged-crowned-2021-new-zealander-year |archive-date=1 April 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/01/siouxsie-wiles-named-new-zealander-of-the-year |title=Siouxsie Wiles named New Zealander of the Year |work=The Guardian |date=1 April 2021 |first=Elle |last=Hunt}}</ref>
====COVID-19 pandemic==== Wiles has been at the forefront of science communication in New Zealand during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120415799/scientist-siouxsie-wiles-has-dropped-everything-to-tell-kiwis-about-coronavirus |title=Scientist Siouxsie Wiles has dropped everything to tell Kiwis about coronavirus |last=Macdonald |first=Nikki |date=21 March 2020 |website=Stuff |language=en |access-date=2020-03-28}}</ref> With cartoonist [[Toby Morris (cartoonist)|Toby Morris]] Wiles created "Flatten the Curve", an [[GIF|animated GIF]] comic, for ''[[The Spinoff]]'' to describe how simple citizen actions could vastly reduce the death toll.<ref>{{cite news |title=Covid-19: All arrivals to NZ must self-isolate for 14 days. Here's what you need to know |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/14-03-2020/covid-19-christchurch-service-cancelled-as-nz-confirms-sixth-case-what-we-know-so-far/ |work=The Spinoff |date=March 14, 2020 |author=Toby Manhire |quote=(NZ Prime Minister) [[Jacinda Ardern]] with a print-out of the Spinoff 'Flatten the Curve' visual by Siouxsie Wiles and Toby Morris. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)}}</ref> The comic went viral and was seen worldwide. Called "the defining chart of the coronavirus", it was based on earlier graphics by the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]], Rosamund Pearce of ''[[The Economist]]'', and [[Thomas Jefferson University]] professor Drew Harris.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chow |first1=Denise |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/what-flatten-curve-chart-shows-how-critical-it-everyone-fight-n1155636 |title=What is 'flatten the curve'? The chart that shows how critical it is for everyone to fight coronavirus spread. |date=12 March 2020 |work=[[NBC News]] |last2=Abbruzzese |first2=Jason}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Wilson |first=Mark |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90476143/the-story-behind-flatten-the-curve-the-defining-chart-of-the-coronavirus |title=The story behind 'flatten the curve,' the defining chart of the coronavirus |date=13 March 2020 |work=[[Fast Company]] |access-date=3 April 2020}}</ref>
In 2020 Wiles was the subject of a documentary short entitled "Siouxsie and the Virus".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-07-03 |title=Covid-19 scientist Siouxsie Wiles reveals appalling social media abuse |language=en-NZ |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12344609 |access-date=2020-07-06 |issn=1170-0777 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129175837/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-scientist-siouxsie-wiles-reveals-appalling-social-media-abuse/7GHUGNG5KRU4WVQ44D67MTYHYM/ |archive-date=29 November 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Wiles was the subject of a second documentary in 2023 which highlighted the importance of science communication during a pandemic.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gwen Isaac’s Ms. Information |url=https://www.massey.ac.nz/research/research-impact-stories/gwen-isaacs-ms-information/ |website=Massey University - University of New Zealand |access-date=17 November 2025}}</ref>
In mid-September 2021, Wiles criticised the New Zealand Government's decision to abandon its COVID-19 elimination strategy, asserting that this would put the unvaccinated and vulnerable at risk.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wiles |first1=Siouxsie |title=Siouxsie Wiles: Why we need to stay the course on elimination |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/22-09-2021/siouxsie-wiles-why-we-need-to-stay-the-course-on-elimination/ |access-date=18 October 2021 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=22 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211014143437/https://thespinoff.co.nz/society/06-10-2021/siouxsie-wiles-why-the-change-in-our-approach-leaves-me-grieving-and-what-comes-next/ |archive-date=14 October 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the launch of the [[COVID-19 Protection Framework]] (traffic light system) in December 2021, Wiles urged Aucklanders to put aside their summer holiday plans in order to contain the spread of the [[SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant|Delta variant]] within the community.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Robin |title=Covid-19: Expert implores Aucklanders to 'staycation' to avoid potential spike in infections |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/covid-19/457219/covid-19-expert-implores-aucklanders-to-staycation-to-avoid-potential-spike-in-infections |access-date=6 December 2021 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=4 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205003353/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/covid-19/457219/covid-19-expert-implores-aucklanders-to-staycation-to-avoid-potential-spike-in-infections |archive-date=5 December 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In mid September 2022, Wiles criticised the Government's decision to drop the "traffic light system" as a "big, long term expensive, mistake." She argued that the COVID-19 Protection Framework was needed to protect the country from newer COVID-19 strains, infection waves, and the problem of "[[Long COVID]]" among vulnerable patients. Wiles also argued that facemasks and RAT tests were still needed to curb the spread of COVID-19 within the community.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wiles |first1=Siouxsie |title=Ditching Covid restrictions now could be a big and expensive mistake |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/12-09-2022/siouxsie-wiles-ditching-covid-restrictions-now-would-be-a-big-and-expensive-mistake |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912000904/https://thespinoff.co.nz/science/12-09-2022/siouxsie-wiles-ditching-covid-restrictions-now-would-be-a-big-and-expensive-mistake |archive-date=12 September 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
====Listener Seven controversy==== {{Main article|Listener letter on science}} In late July 2021, Wiles and physicist Professor [[Shaun Hendy]] wrote an open counter-letter dissenting with seven fellow University of Auckland academics ([[Kendall Clements]], [[Elizabeth Rata]], [[Doug Elliffe]], [[Garth Cooper]], [[Robert Nola]], [[John Werry]], and [[Michael Corballis]]), who had penned a [[Listener letter on science controversy|letter]] in the ''[[New Zealand Listener]]'' current affairs magazine arguing that [[mātauranga Māori]] ([[Māori people|Māori]] indigenous knowledge) was incompatible with science. In their response, Wiles and Hendy argued that mātauranga Māori complemented Western knowledge systems. They also claimed that the diminishing role of indigenous knowledge in science was "simply another tool for exclusion and exploitation" and that mistrust in science was fuelled by [[scientific racism]], colonialism, and injustice.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wiggins |first1=Amy |title=Experts Shaun Hendy and Siouxsie Wiles among those rejecting claim Māori knowledge isn't science as 'scientific racism' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/experts-shaun-hendy-and-siouxsie-wiles-among-those-rejecting-claim-maori-knowledge-isnt-science-as-scientific-racism/QQSKY6Y2CBP7ONYRXXL3VUUBN4/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107140255/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/experts-shaun-hendy-and-siouxsie-wiles-among-those-rejecting-claim-maori-knowledge-isnt-science-as-scientific-racism/QQSKY6Y2CBP7ONYRXXL3VUUBN4/ |archive-date=7 November 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> By 30 July, Hendry and Wiles' counter-letter had attracted more than 2,000 unverified signatures.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sowmand-Lund |first1=Stewart |title=Live updates, July 30: 2,000 sign open letter response on mātauranga Māori and science |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/30-07-2021/live-updates-july-30-pay-talks-resume-as-nurses-reject-latest-offer |access-date=16 January 2022 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=30 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207204907/https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/30-07-2021/live-updates-july-30-pay-talks-resume-as-nurses-reject-latest-offer |archive-date=7 December 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2022 the [[New Zealand Media Council]] upheld a complaint that a column by Wiles published by [[Stuff (company)|Stuff]] on 20 December 2021 about the Listener Seven had breached press standards. The Media Council took particular issue with Wiles' claim that the seven professors had intimidated junior colleagues with lawyers' letters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 March 2022 |title=Media Council upholds professors' complaint |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/about-stuff/complaints-and-corrections/127946397/media-council-upholds-professors-complaint |access-date=14 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520110550/https://www.stuff.co.nz/about-stuff/complaints-and-corrections/127946397/media-council-upholds-professors-complaint|archive-date=20 May 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Wiles v University of Auckland === In January 2022 Wiles and Shaun Hendy filed claims with the [[Employment Relations Authority]] against the University of Auckland. They alleged that the University did not protect them from harassment for their COVID-19 commentary advocacy for vaccination.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> Concerns were first raised in April 2020,<ref name=":0" /> and over 60 safety concern emails had been sent in total.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Earley |first=Melanie |date=2023-11-06 |title=Covid-19 commentator Siouxsie Wiles received 'tsunami of abuse', court hears |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/133240201/covid19-commentator-siouxsie-wiles-received-tsunami-of-abuse-court-hears |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> It was not until June 2022 that the university carried out a threat assessment.<ref name=":3" /> Harassment experienced by the two were via email and social media, and included [[doxing]] and threats of physical confrontation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Anthony |first=John |date=2022-01-03 |title=Covid-19 commentators make employment claim against University of Auckland |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/127426239/covid19-commentators-make-employment-claim-against-university-of-auckland |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> Wiles had been compared to Adolf Hitler and Satanists, and also had threats of being hung, raped, executed, and sentenced to long jail terms.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Earley |first=Melanie |date=2023-11-06 |title=Covid-19 commentator Siouxsie Wiles received 'tsunami of abuse', court hears |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/133240201/covid19-commentator-siouxsie-wiles-received-tsunami-of-abuse-court-hears |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> After her personal details were published on a far-right social media platform, the university offered Wiles a home security system, Wiles said that it did not work properly, and when asked for help, the university said that the person had gone on Christmas holiday.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=6 November 2023 |title=Siouxsie Wiles v University of Auckland: 'Victim blaming' HR staff told scientist to stop making public comments on Covid-19 |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/siouxsie-wiles-v-university-of-auckland-threats-against-high-profile-scientist-played-to-court/PWNWS4UL5RHSTNDXXKTOVQI4PI/ |access-date=9 November 2023 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> They also alleged that the university breached their academic staff collective agreement, good faith requirements, and responsive communication. The university denied any wrongdoing, and said that the Wiles and Hendy are not required or expected to provide COVID-19 commentary under their employment. Auckland University instructed them to keep COVID-19 commentary to a minimum.<ref name=":0" /> In October 2022 Hendy resolved the dispute after leaving the university.<ref name=":1" />
In August 2021, the university had advised them to reduce their public commentary and social media interaction, which Hendy and Wiles regarded as insufficient. The Employment Relations Authority also expedited their complaint, allowing it to proceed to the [[Employment Court of New Zealand|Employment Court]], and ordered the University of Auckland to pay their legal fees.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kapitan |first1=Craig |title=Shaun Hendy, Siouxsie Wiles file complaint against University of Auckland |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/shaun-hendy-siouxsie-wiles-file-complaint-against-university-of-auckland/JPIUINTAUXI2TDC3K45JC4IDOA/ |access-date=24 January 2022 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=3 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105040314/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/shaun-hendy-siouxsie-wiles-file-complaint-against-university-of-auckland/JPIUINTAUXI2TDC3K45JC4IDOA/ |archive-date=5 January 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>
On 6 November 2023 a hearing started in court with an expected duration of three weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGregor |first=Catherine |date=2023-11-06 |title=Siouxsie Wiles will have her day in court |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin/06-11-2023/siouxsie-wiles-will-have-her-day-in-court |access-date=2023-11-09 |website=The Spinoff |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> That day, footage of harassment against Wiles was shown in court.<ref name=":2" /> Such clips included conspiracy theorists [[Billy Te Kahika]] and Vinny Eastwood describing her as "Satanic" to their followers.<ref name=":3" /> During cross-examination on 7 October, the University of Auckland's lawyer Philip Skelton disputed Wiles' claim that the University had silenced her by arguing that she had taken part in numerous media interviews.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Xia |first1=Lucy |title=Siouxsie Wiles takes University of Auckland to Employment Court in wake of Covid-19 lockdown-era threats |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/501905/siouxsie-wiles-takes-university-of-auckland-to-employment-court-in-wake-of-covid-19-lockdown-era-threats |access-date=9 November 2023 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=7 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107154128/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/501905/siouxsie-wiles-takes-university-of-auckland-to-employment-court-in-wake-of-covid-19-lockdown-era-threats |archive-date=7 November 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 November, a person sought to speak to Wiles at the University of Auckland. On 9 November, security staff removed a man who approached Wiles' legal team at the Employment Court, claiming he wanted to give evidence to her team. In response to these incidents, University lawyers raised concerns that media coverage of the court case could create a health and safety issue.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davison |first1=Isaac |title=Siouxsie Wiles case: Security removes man from courtroom after he approached scientist's legal team |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/siouxsie-wiles-case-security-removes-man-from-courtroom-after-he-approached-scientists-legal-team/ZVPO2IAJZ5GSVDRHC6LI3DF3F4/ |access-date=15 November 2023 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=9 November 2023}}</ref>
At the end of the case, on 23 November 2023, Judge Holden reserved her decision.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Earley |first1=Melanie |title=Decision in Dr Siouxsie Wiles employment case against Auckland Uni reserved after three week hearing |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/301016365/decision-in-dr-siouxsie-wiles-employment-case-against-auckland-uni-reserved-after-three-week-hearing |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=28 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501130145/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/301016365/decision-in-dr-siouxsie-wiles-employment-case-against-auckland-uni-reserved-after-three-week-hearing |archive-date=1 May 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> On 8 July 2024, the Employment Court ruled in Wiles' favour and found that the University had breached its health and safety obligations, contractual obligations, its duty of "good faith" and upheld Wiles' personal grievance claim. The Court also ruled that the University did not breach her academic freedom. The University was ordered to pay Wiles' NZ$20,000 in damages.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Plummer |first1=Benjamin |last2=Davison |first2=Isaac |title=Siouxsie Wiles: Auckland University ordered to pay $20,000 in Employment Court decision |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/siouxsie-wiles-auckland-university-ordered-to-pay-20000-in-employment-court-decision/AT7N5ME66JA2NC4DFB2EPYCFME/ |access-date=8 July 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=8 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708123103/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/siouxsie-wiles-auckland-university-ordered-to-pay-20000-in-employment-court-decision/AT7N5ME66JA2NC4DFB2EPYCFME/ |archive-date=8 July 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> On 4 June 2025, [[Radio New Zealand]] reported that the Employment Court had ordered the University of Auckland to pay Wiles $205,059.94 in legal costs for breaching their contractual obligations to protect Wiles from harassment.<ref>{{cite news |title=Auckland University ordered to pay Siouxsie Wiles more than $200,000 |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/563050/auckland-university-ordered-to-pay-siouxsie-wiles-more-than-200-000 |access-date=11 June 2025 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=4 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250607015120/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/563050/auckland-university-ordered-to-pay-siouxsie-wiles-more-than-200-000 |archive-date=7 June 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==Books and publications== ===''Antibiotic Resistance''=== Wiles' book ''Antibiotic Resistance: The End of Modern Medicine?'' was published in 2017 and examined the growing global problem of [[antibiotic resistance]].{{R|"DPMCHonours"}}{{R|"bwbAntibioticRes"}} Commenting on the book, [[University of Otago]] infectious diseases expert Professor Kurt Krause described it as "a clear call to action for New Zealanders on one of the most critical issues we face".{{R|"bwbAntibioticRes"}} Sarah-Jane O'Connor from the [[Science Media Centre]] writes that the book "[…]Antibiotic Resistance will provide an excellent tutorial for those who know there's cause for concern but need some extra background to understand why".{{R|"SciBlogsSB"}}
==Personal life== Wiles is married to [[Steven Galbraith]]<!-- Q41142506 -->, a professor of mathematics at the University of Auckland,<ref>{{cite web |title=Steven Galbraith |url=https://www.math.auckland.ac.nz/~sgal018/ |website=University of Auckland |access-date=4 April 2020}}</ref> and together they have a daughter. She met her husband, a New Zealander, in London and left her position at [[Imperial College London]] to move to New Zealand in 2009.{{R|InterviewNZHerald2013|UniEDWiles}} Wiles was granted [[New Zealand nationality law|New Zealand citizenship]] in 2014.{{R|"Blake profile"}}
She is a fan of [[Lego]] and likes to play with it while being a critic of what she describes as [[gender bias]] in the [[Lego minifigures]].{{R|"TEDxAucklandWiles"}} She has dyed her hair since she was a teenager, and is known as the "pink-haired science lady".{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}} In a 2013 blog post, Wiles says that the name "Siouxsie" comes from singer [[Siouxsie Sioux]], lead singer of the band [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Siouxsie |first1=Wiles |title=So just how did I get my name? |url=https://sciblogs.co.nz/infectious-thoughts/2013/02/04/so-just-how-did-i-get-my-name/ |website=Sciblogs |date=4 February 2013 |access-date=1 September 2020}}</ref>
==Awards and recognition== [[File:Siouxsie Wiles NZOTY2021 (cropped).jpg|thumb|Siouxsie Wiles at the [[New Zealander of the Year Awards|New Zealander of the Year]] ceremony, bracketed by Prime Minister [[Jacinda Ardern]] and [[Jennifer Ward-Lealand]], the previous year's winner. ]] *[[Three Rs (animal research)|3Rs]] Prize from the United Kingdom National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) in 2005{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}}{{R|"DPMCHonours"}} *Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellowship from the HRC in 2009.{{R|"HRC_2012_12_19"}} *New Zealand National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee Three Rs Prize, 2011{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}} *[[New Zealand Association of Scientists]]' Science Communication Prize (now known as the [[Cranwell Medal]]), 2012{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}}{{R|"HRC_2012_12_19"}} *[[Prime Minister's Science Prizes|Prime Minister's Prize]] for Science Media Communication, 2013{{R|"InterviewNZHerald2013"}}{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}}{{R|"PMSciencePrize"}} *[[Royal Society of New Zealand]]'s [[Callaghan Medal]], 2013{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}}{{R|"RoyalSociety1"}} *Blake Leader Award from the Sir [[Peter Blake (sailor)|Peter Blake]] Trust, 2016{{R|"NewsHub"}} *[[NZ Skeptics|New Zealand Skeptics]]' Skeptic of the Year Award, 2016{{R|"NZSkeptics"}} *Selected as one of the Royal Society Te Apārangi's "[[150 women in 150 words]]", celebrating the contributions of women to knowledge in New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Siouxsie Wiles |url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/150th-anniversary/150-women-in-150-words/1968-2017/siouxsie-wiles/ |access-date=2021-05-11 |website=Royal Society Te Apārangi}}</ref> *Appointed a [[Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit]], for services to microbiology and science communication, in the [[2019 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|2019 New Year Honours]].{{R|"UniAuckWiles"}}{{R|"DPMCHonours"}} *One of BBC's "[[100 Women (BBC)|100 influential and inspirational women]]" for 2020 world-wide{{R|"BBC 100 women"}} *Supreme Winner, [[New Zealand Women of Influence Award]], 2020<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-17 |title=Dr Siouxsie Wiles supreme winner at Stuff-Westpac 2020 Women of Influence Awards |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/123411085/dr-siouxsie-wiles-supreme-winner-at-stuffwestpac-2020-women-of-influence-awards |access-date=2020-11-24 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> *2021 New Zealander of the Year<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/> *2021 Joint winner with [[Al Gillespie]], of Critic and Conscience of Society Award.{{R|Award 2021}}
==References== <references> <ref name="InterviewNZHerald2013">{{Cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11161468 |title=Michele Hewitson interview: Siouxsie Wiles |last=Laxon |first=Andrew |date=2013-11-23 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ |issn=1170-0777 |access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref>
<ref name="UniEDWiles">{{Cite web |url=http://www.ed.ac.uk/alumni/services/profiles/graduation/1990s/siouxsie-wiles |title=Siouxsie Wiles |publisher=The University of Edinburgh |website=www.ed.ac.uk |date=30 June 2015 |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="PMSciencePrize">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pmscienceprizes.org.nz/previous-winners/2013-media-communication/ |title=The Prime Minister's Science Media Communication Prize 2013 |website=www.pmscienceprizes.org.nz |publisher=[[Royal Society Te Apārangi|Royal Society of New Zealand Te Apārangi]] |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="RoyalSociety1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/siouxsie-wiles-finalist-in-2018-new-zealander-of-the-year/ |title=2018 New Zealander of the Year finalist – Dr Siouxsie Wiles |website=Royal Society of New Zealand |language=en |access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref>
<ref name="RoyalSociety2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/associate-professor-siouxsie-wiles-announced-as-house-of-science-ambassador/ |title=Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles announced as House of Science ambassador |website=Royal Society of New Zealand |language=en |access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref>
<ref name="RoyalSociety3">{{Cite web |url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/2018-coucil-election-results/ |title=2018 Council Election – Results |website=Royal Society of New Zealand |language=en |access-date=2020-02-12}}</ref>
<ref name="RoyalSociety4">{{Cite web |url=https://www.royalsociety.org.nz/150th-anniversary/150-women-in-150-words/1968-2017/siouxsie-wiles/ |title=Siouxsie Wiles |website=Royal Society of New Zealand |language=en |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="SciBlogsSB">{{Cite web |url=https://sciblogs.co.nz/scibooks/2017/04/21/antibiotic-resistance-end-modern-medicine/# |title=Book review: Antibiotic Resistance – the end of modern medicine? |website=SciBlogs |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="bwbAntibioticRes">{{Cite web |url=https://bwb.co.nz/books/antibiotic-resistance |title=Antibiotic Resistance – The End of Modern Medicine? |website=BWB Bridget Williams Books |language=en |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="NZAwards">{{Cite web |url=http://nzawards.org.nz/news/new-zealander-year-finalists-announced/ |title=New Zealander of the Year Finalists Announced |website=nzawards.org.nz |access-date=2020-02-13 |archive-date=19 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419182139/https://nzawards.org.nz/news/new-zealander-year-finalists-announced/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name="RNZEndofAntibiotics">{{Cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/201840007/siouxsie-wiles-on-the-end-of-antibiotics |title=Siouxsie Wiles on the end of antibiotics |website=[[RNZ]] |date=11 April 2017 |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="UniAuckWiles">{{Cite web |url=https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/s-wiles |title=Associate Professor Siouxsie Wiles |website=unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz |publisher=Auckland University |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="NewsHub">{{Cite news |url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/sir-peter-blake-trust-honours-leaders-at-black-tie-awards-2016070121#axzz4DIbYOG6F |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702140832/http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/sir-peter-blake-trust-honours-leaders-at-black-tie-awards-2016070121#axzz4DIbYOG6F |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2016 |title=Sir Peter Blake Trust honours leaders at black-tie awards |newspaper=Newshub |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="BioluminationII">{{cite web |url=https://sciblogs.co.nz/infectious-thoughts/2015/03/23/thinkscience-at-the-auckland-arts-festival-biolumination-ii/ |title=thinkScience at the Auckland Arts Festival – Biolumination II |date=2015-03-23 |website=Sciblogs |access-date=2020-02-16}}</ref>
<ref name="NZSkeptics">{{Cite web |url=http://skeptics.nz/awards/skepticoftheyear |title=Denis Dutton Award for New Zealand Skeptic of the Year |website=NZ Skeptics |access-date=2016-12-10}}</ref>
<ref name="DPMCHonours">{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/ny2019-mnzm#wilessi |title=New Year honours list 2019 |date=31 December 2018 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="TVNZ">{{cite web |url=https://www.heihei.nz/siouxsieandeve |title=Siouxsie & Eve Investigate |access-date=2020-02-16}}</ref>
<ref name="SkepInqNZConf">{{cite web |url=https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/nz-skeptic-conference-christchurch-2019/ |title=NZ Skeptic Conference – Christchurch – 2019 |date=10 February 2020 |website=Skeptical Inquirer |publisher=CSICOP |last1=Gerbic |first1=Susan |author-link=Susan Gerbic |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="StNMag">{{cite web |url=https://www.signaltonoisemag.com/allarticles/2018/8/31/putting-the-spotlight-on-artists-who-glow |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923140515/http://www.signaltonoisemag.com/allarticles/2018/8/31/putting-the-spotlight-on-artists-who-glow |url-status=usurped |archive-date=23 September 2018 |title=Putting the Spotlight on Artists Who Glow |date=6 September 2018 |website=Signal to Noise Magazine |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="TEDxAucklandWiles">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8a731O7IM8 |title=Building blocks of bias: Lego and gender {{!}} Siouxsie Wiles {{!}} TEDxAuckland |date=19 May 2015 |website=YouTube |publisher=TEDx Talks |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="TEDxChristchurchWiles">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzuPDBOKPYQ&t=225 |title=How Glowing Bacteria Can Save The World {{!}} Siouxsie Wiles {{!}} TEDxChristchurch |date=8 May 2015 |website=YouTube |publisher=TEDx Talks |access-date=2020-02-13}}</ref>
<ref name="TheCUSP">{{cite web |url=http://thecusp.org.nz/content/about-cusp |title=About The CUSP |date=15 December 2019 |website=Web Archive |publisher=The CUSP |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020084806/http://thecusp.org.nz/content/about-cusp |access-date=2020-02-13 |archive-date=20 October 2016}}</ref>
<ref name="NZHeraldSuperbugs">{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/science/news/article.cfm?c_id=82&objectid=11851192 |title=Could superbug 'Kryptonite' be in NZ forests? |last=Morton |first=Jamie |date=15 December 2019 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref>
<ref name="HRC_2012_12_19">{{cite web |title=Microbiologist 'blogs way' to communicators award |url=https://www.hrc.govt.nz/news-and-events/microbiologist-blogs-way-communicators-award |website=www.hrc.govt.nz |publisher=Health Research Council of New Zealand |access-date=19 March 2022 |language=en |date=4 December 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="Blake profile">{{cite web |title=Dr Siouxsie Wiles: Blake Leader 2016 |url=https://www.blakenz.org/person/dr-siouxsie-wiles/ |website=Blake NZ |access-date=19 March 2022 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
<ref name="BBC 100 women">{{cite news |title=BBC 100 Women 2020: Who is on the list this year? |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-55042935 |access-date=19 March 2022 |work=BBC News |date=23 November 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Award 2021">{{Cite news |date=7 July 2021 |title=Waikato professor wins $50,000 prize for being 'critic and conscience of society' |publisher=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/125673529/waikato-professor-wins-50000-prize-for-being-critic-and-conscience-of-society|work=Waikato Times|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707045228/https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/125673529/waikato-professor-wins-50000-prize-for-being-critic-and-conscience-of-society|archive-date=7 July 2021|access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref> </references>
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://about.me/skeptimoo Personal website] * [https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/s-wiles Profile] on [[University of Auckland]] * [https://sciblogs.co.nz/infectious-thoughts/ Infectious Thoughts] on [[Sciblogs.co.nz]] * [http://siouxsiew.blogspot.co.nz/ Siouxsie Wiles] on [[Blogspot]] * [http://www.superbugslab.org/ Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab's website] * [https://www.flicks.co.nz/movie/ms-information/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOIKuJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3bUk3ZEl2dllEM0RYQlpNc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MghjYWxsc2l0ZQEyAAEekhnTp361N60xJrVlhBODEvg9NvK9KR77uzEomY4CmZK8bfVnMagBJx4sLIA_aem_pEgKNvf3h35wFvCP9OGf3g Ms Information, 2023 documentary]
{{Coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Wiles, Siouxsie}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century New Zealand people]] [[Category:Academic staff of the University of Auckland]] [[Category:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh]] [[Category:Academics of Imperial College London]] [[Category:New Zealand science communicators]] [[Category:New Zealand microbiologists]] [[Category:New Zealand women scientists]] [[Category:New Zealand scientists]] [[Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:New Zealand Women of Influence Award recipients]] [[Category:British science communicators]]